Conflict and reconstruction : roles for the World Bank
For only the first few years after the establishment of the World Bank, the institution's lending and analytic activities concentrated on post Second World War reconstruction rather than development. After several decades of dedication to development, reconstruction after conflict or state collapse has reemerged as an important area of Bank operations. In recent years a growing number of states have experienced erosion or collapse of governance, extended civil war, even genocide. These societies face problems of rehabilitation and reconstruction far more complex than repair and replacement of physical capital. The crises they produce create humanitarian disasters that often spill over into neighboring states, undo years of investment, send countries into arrears, destroy infrastructure (including some previously financed by the Bank), and later in the reconstruction period claim large international assistance. To promote implementation of this policy the Bank should establish a special unit devoted to the problems of failing states and post conflict recovery. The unit would undertake analysis, information gathering, staff orientation, project support, and coordination with other agencies. It would undertake to clarify, evaluate, and assist in the development of an expanded and regularized Bank role with respect to failing, failed, or recovering states. This study attempts to cull from 13 country experiences, ranging from some that have been undergoing reconstruction for some years already, to others barely emergent from destructive crisis (Angola, Mozambique), to others still in the midst of civil deterioration (Burundi, Sierra Leone). Given the brief time available for its preparation, the study should be read as a prologue to further in-depth examination of the various problems faced in these and other countries and the implications for the Bank's new reconstruction role.
After the wars : reconstruction in Afghanistan, Indochina, Central America, Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa
After the wars-what kind of peace? / Anthony Lake -- Afghanistan / Selig S. Harrison -- Indochina / Nayan Chanda -- Central America / Benjamin L. Crosby Southern Africa / Mark C. Chana and Jeffrey I. Herbst -- The Horn of Africa Carol J. Lancaster.
Did the metamorphosis from Export Processing Zones to Special Economic Zones improve the efficiency of trade enclaves in India?
In this paper, the efficiency of seven conventional Special Economic Zones in India is analyzed, by adopting a stochastic production frontier technique, for the period between 1986–1987 and 2007–2008.Results indicate that although the efficiency scores of these enclaves have improved over the years, specifically with the introduction of the SEZ policy (2000–2001), it is far below the threshold level as identified in the literature. Besides, one can also observe a discrepancy emerging between better export earning zones and efficient zones. On the determinants side, policy intervention and large geographical area, accompanied by clustering of units, are found to have impacted the efficiency scores of these enclaves positively.