The Caribbean presents a vulnerable combination of several very small states and a propensity to major natural catastrophes such as hurricanes. This combination spurred the creation of the world’s first multi-country risk pool. The Caribbean…
Traditionally many business management tools were the preserve of public corporations and multinationals. Now, as a result of the IFC small and medium enterprise (SME) toolkit initiative, tools such as business plan generators, website builders,…
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) aims to deliver assistance to underdeveloped countries with a focus on good policy, country ownership and developmental results. This note describes how MCC forms partnerships with highly underdeveloped countries and…
Impediments to foreign direct investment are a key constraint for developing countries seeking economic growth and poverty reduction. For many developing countries, political risk is one of the most significant impediments within this category. The…
The story of how Spain transitioned from a military dictatorship to a situational monarchy with a Parliamentary democracy is widely known. This paper scrutinizes the deeper process: how Spain developed its national institutions to build…
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US government’s developmental finance arm, mobilizes private capital to simultaneously solve global challenges and advance US foreign policy. This note considers how OPIC helps US businesses unlock emerging…
How did Himachal Pradesh evolve to become one of India’s wealthiest states, with low poverty levels and above-average literacy? The prospect appeared unlikely when 30 princely Hill states merged to form a state characterized by…
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging and transition markets often struggle to attract capital, although SMEs typically generate countries’ largest source of employment, goods and services. Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) provides such enterprises…
This note reviews special economic zones, the variety of fiscal and economic regimes that govern them, and the potential they offer governments. It considers how they can stimulate foreign investment, regional development, technology transfer, foreign…
The Homestrings investment firm raises equity and debt capital to target emerging and frontier markets. It aims to offer diaspora populations from the developing world access to funds and projects with development potential that were…
Recommendations from the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Fragile States The citizens of fragile states are not waiting for change; they now take to the streets demanding inclusion in decision-making and marketplace opportunities.…
Confronted by set of deeply entrenched obstacles, the government of Bihar adopted a carefully structured approach to state-building. In this paper we assess the measures it took to consolidate the rule of law, build key…