World Bank Publications

• Why have only 13 developing world economies achieved sustained, high growth since World War II? • Why is engagement with the global economy necessary to achieve high growth? • Why do some countries' growth strategies fail to win the public's confidence? • Why are equity and equality of opportunity important components of successful growth strategies? • Why do many countries, blessed with natural resource wealth, not achieve high growth?

The history of debt relief goes back several decades. It reveals that a country’s accumulation of unsustainable debt stems from such factors as deficiencies in macroeconomic management, adverse terms-of-trade shocks, and poor governance. Debt-relief initiatives have provided debt-burdened countries with the opportunity for a fresh start, but whether the benefits of debt relief can be preserved depends on transformations in a country’s policies and institutions.

The World Bank Annual Report 2009, Year in Review, explores the impact of the global financial and economic crisis in developing countries, and fast-track funding and programs that can help member countries withstand the debacle. In addition, new and ongoing programs and projects in health, climate change, infrastructure, and several other areas are highlighted. A new feature this year is personal-impact stories for each region, relaying the positive effects of World Bank assistance on individuals.

Governments and civil society in Latin America and the Caribbean should be well informed about the potential costs and benefits of combating climate change, their policy options over the next decades, and the global context for these policy decisions.

Southeast Asian tiger economies feel threatened by competition from other countries and worry that their growth momentum might be flagging. Even though their growth rates are above the average for the world and for developing countries, they fall short of yesterday’s economic performance.

Strategic communication refers to the design of programs aimed at promoting voluntary change in behavior among stakeholders critical to the success of reforms, with communication being an instrument of policy and program reform, not merely a means of disseminating information. This Sourcebook provides a management decision-making tool for developing a communication strategy for reforms.