This book presents a state-of-the-art evaluation of the benefits and costs of behind-the-border services reform. It introduces new, second-generation methods for quantifying regulatory barriers and applies those methods to a wide range of services sectors OCo financial, infrastructure and social OCo in a broad spectrum of countries. It uses advanced modeling techniques to project the sectoral, economy-wide and regional effects of services reforms, as well as highlight their adjustment costs. The empirical results offer fresh guidance to policy-makers, who need better information bases with which to prioritize services reforms and devise pathways to achieving them. The empirical methods provide invaluable tools to academics, researchers and policy advisors, who can use them to further improve those information bases. Priorities and Pathways in Services Reform: Part I OCo Quantitative Studies presents new methodological frameworks for assessing and prioritizing services reforms, and provides an up-to-date evaluation of the policy impacts across a range of services markets and countries. Part II OCo Political Economy furthers the conversation by analyzing what it takes for a reform to succeed.

This book presents a state-of-the-art evaluation of the benefits and costs of behind-the-border services reform. It introduces new, second-generation methods for quantifying regulatory barriers and applies those methods to a wide range of services sectors — financial, infrastructure and social — in a broad spectrum of countries. It uses advanced modeling techniques to project the sectoral, economy-wide and regional effects of services reforms, as well as highlight their adjustment costs. The empirical results offer fresh guidance to policy-makers, who need better information bases with which to prioritize services reforms and devise pathways to achieving them. The empirical methods provide invaluable tools to academics, researchers and policy advisors, who can use them to further improve those information bases. Priorities and Pathways in Services Reform: Part I — Quantitative Studies presents new methodological frameworks for assessing and prioritizing services reforms, and provides an up-to-date evaluation of the policy impacts across a range of services markets and countries. Part II — Political Economy furthers the conversation by analyzing what it takes for a reform to succeed.

The book shows policy makers how to approach the economics and politics of services trade reform domestically, consistent with relevant special features of services trade. It shows analysts the full policy implications of those special features, including what they mean and how services reform should be treated in the future in national and international forums.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

Services markets remain highly regulated and international trade and investment is restricted. Previous works have identified the scope for significant gains from trade, yet those results are often debated and the progress on reform has been slow. Parts I and II in Priorities and Pathways in Services Reform help fill the gap in the research around this debate. Part I OCo Quantitative Studies contains up-to-date assessment and evaluations of the impact of policy in a range of services markets in different countries (through cross-country modelling of the impacts of a reform program). Part II OCo Political Economy Studies builds on this to address the understanding of what makes a reform successful, going beyond a quantification of the benefits of reform. This book fills that gap by reporting and reviewing the experience of reform across different sectors and countries. Ten key lessons are identified for successful reform. Readers will find fresh insights into managing complex issues in services reform."

Violent conflicts today are complex and increasingly protracted, involving more nonstate groups and regional and international actors. It is estimated that by 2030—the horizon set by the international community for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals—more than half of the world’s poor will be living in countries affected by high levels of violence. Information and communication technology, population movements, and climate change are also creating shared risks that must be managed at both national and international levels. Pathways for Peace is a joint United Nations†“World Bank Group study that originates from the conviction that the international community’s attention must urgently be refocused on prevention. A scaled-up system for preventive action would save between US$5 billion and US$70 billion per year, which could be reinvested in reducing poverty and improving the well-being of populations. The study aims to improve the way in which domestic development processes interact with security, diplomacy, mediation, and other efforts to prevent conflicts from becoming violent. It stresses the importance of grievances related to exclusion—from access to power, natural resources, security and justice, for example—that are at the root of many violent conflicts today. Based on a review of cases in which prevention has been successful, the study makes recommendations for countries facing emerging risks of violent conflict as well as for the international community. Development policies and programs must be a core part of preventive efforts; when risks are high or building up, inclusive solutions through dialogue, adapted macroeconomic policies, institutional reform, and redistributive policies are required. Inclusion is key, and preventive action needs to adopt a more people-centered approach that includes mainstreaming citizen engagement. Enhancing the participation of women and youth in decision making is fundamental to sustaining peace, as well as long-term policies to address the aspirations of women and young people.

After reprinting the issue of the CQ Researcher that summarizes current policy debate surrounding welfare reform (originally published in August, 2001), additional material is presented in three sections exploring politics and policy in the United States, the role of domestic businesses and non-profit organizations, and related international issues. The section on policy and politics pays particular attention to the variations at the state and local levels, often summarizing the experiences of individual states. Similarly, the section on organizations offers brief sketches of important businesses and organizations that have affected the debates. The international section focuses mostly on the experiences of developed European nations. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"Highlights the evolution and significance of services in the global economy, including as a vehicle for development"--Provided by publisher.

As a result of the recent financial crisis, there has been significant public debate on the role of the financial sector in bringing about the Great Depression. More generally, there has been debate about whether the current industry structure has enhanced social welfare or served a detrimental role. This book is a collection of papers presented at the conference held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, in November 2012 that examined the social value of the financial sector as currently structured. Issues evaluated include what are the perceived benefits and costs of the current financial system How valuable have industry innovations been for society Should regulation be used to move the industry in a direction thought to be more valuable for society Should big banks be broken up What are the welfare implications of the current industry structure In the book, leading industry scholars debate these issues with a goal of influencing public policy toward the industry.

Services markets remain highly regulated and international trade and investment is restricted. Previous works have identified the scope for significant gains from trade, yet those results are often debated and the progress on reform has been slow. Parts I and II in Priorities and Pathways in Services Reform help fill the gap in the research around this debate. Part I — Quantitative Studies contains up-to-date assessment and evaluations of the impact of policy in a range of services markets in different countries (through cross-country modelling of the impacts of a reform program). Part II — Political Economy Studies builds on this to address the understanding of what makes a reform successful, going beyond a quantification of the benefits of reform. This book fills that gap by reporting and reviewing the experience of reform across different sectors and countries. Ten key lessons are identified for successful reform. Readers will find fresh insights into managing complex issues in services reform.