A series of unforeseen events caused an abrupt halt to the Philippines’ strong growth momentum in early 2020. As a result, the Philippine economy contracted by 0.2 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020, a sharp reversal from the 5.7 percent growth over the same period a year ago. The growth contraction – the first in over two decades – was driven by a series of unexpected even…
“Argentina: Escaping crisis, sustaining growth, sharing prosperity” is an analysis on the medium-term agenda to ensure growth and shared prosperity in Argentina and comes at a time when the country is embarking on deepening structural reforms while dealing with recent sudden financial market pressures that emerged in April 2018. The current government came into office at the end of 2015 fac…
On September 30, 1943, His Holiness Pope Pius XII issued his now famous encyclical on scripture studies. Divino afflante Spiritu. He wrote : "We ought to explain the original text which was written by the inspired author himself and has more authority and greater weight than any, even the very best, translation whether ancient or modern. This can be done all the more easily and fruitfully if to…
The World Bank Group (WBG) Agriculture Action Plan 2013–151 summarizes critical challenges facing the global food and agriculture sector. Global population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, and the world food-producing sector must secure food and nutrition for the growing population through increased production and reduced waste. Production increase must occur in a context where resour…
As this report demonstrates, women are often more economically vulnerable than men and thus are less likely to be resilient in the face of the crisis. As economies emerge out of the crisis, it is important that governments generate long-term gender-inclusive growth by addressing the constraints that women face. Although most of this report was prepared prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemi…
The World Trade Statistical Review 2023 presents recent trends in international trade at a time of geopolitical and macroeconomic strains and technological challenges affecting the global economy and supply chains. The data cover merchandise and services trade broken down by geographical origin, main product groups and sectors, along with related data on key economic developments such as GDP gr…
Women, Business and the Law takes as its starting point that the equal participation of women and men will give every economy a chance to achieve its potential. Equality of opportunity allows women to make the choices that are best for them, their families, and their communities. It is also associated with improved economic outcomes. A significant body of research links reforms and policies aim…
During this global acceleration, commodity prices rebounded. Copper prices, which are closely linked to the industrial cycle, increased 43 percent between October 2016 and March 2018, more than any other commodity. Oil prices increased 30 percent over the same period (figure 1.2, panel a), providing some relief for energy exporters and recipients of remittances in the eastern part of the region…
Every year, over 5.9 million children die, mostly from preventable or easily treatable diseases, and more than 95% of those deaths occur in developing countries. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age, being responsible for at least 18% of all deaths in this age category (1). In 2010, there were an estimated 120 million episodes of pneumonia in children under 5…
Support for building adequate capacities in the health sector at a national level is particularly needed, given that the health sector both uses mercury and is responsible for diagnosing, treating and preventing the health effects of mercury. The sector’s role in prevention is well recognized, and includes identifying the health effects and sources of exposure to mercury; setting reference le…
Mental health is more than the mere lack of mental disorders. The positive dimension of mental health is stressed in WHO’s definition of health as contained in its constitution: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Concepts of mental health include subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy…
Does the child’s breathing appear to be obstructed? Look at the chest wall movement, and listen to breath sounds to determine whether there is poor air movement during breathing. Stridor indicates obstruction. Is there central cyanosis? Determine whether there is bluish or purplish discoloration of the tongue and the inside of the mouth. Is the child breathing? Look and listen to determine wh…
This topic measures the number of procedures, time, cost and paid-in minimum capital requirement for a small- to medium-sized limited liability company to start up and formally operate in each economy’s largest business city. To make the data comparable across 190 economies, uses a standardized business that is 100% domestically owned, has start-up capital equivalent to 10 times the income pe…
One boat is clear astern of another when her hull and equipment in normal position are behind a line abeam from the aftermost point of the other boat’s hull and equipment in normal position. The other boat is clear ahead. They overlap when neither is clear astern. However, they also overlap when a boat between them overlaps both. These terms always apply to boats on the same tack. They apply …
In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in delivering health-related interventions that are designed to achieve goals relating to improving maternal and child health, and reducing mortality and illhealth due to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It is increasingly apparent, however, that the gains have been neither universal nor sufficiently broad-based and sustainable. Progres…
China’s economic performance over the past 30 years has been remarkable. It is a unique development success story, providing valuable lessons for other countries seeking to emulate this success—lessons about the importance of adapting to local initiative and interregional competition; integrating with the world; adjusting to new technologies; building world-class infrastructure; and investi…