1 - 7 of 7
Number of results to display per page
Search Results
2. Labor Markets in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
- Author:
- Robyn Murphy, Ron Sprout, and Ayo Heinegg
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- This research attempts to look systematically at the available data regarding labor market characteristics of the transition in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. A primary focus is the examination of the data in light of a World Bank working hypothesis that “there are signs of an emerging divide between labor markets in the transition economies of Eastern Europe and those of low-income Eurasian countries.” We find significant labor market gaps and differences between the CEE countries (particularly the Northern Tier CEE) and Eurasia but mixed evidence at best that these gaps are growing. We also find that there remain some key challenges and adverse trends in labor markets even among the Northern Tier CEE countries.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, and Markets
- Political Geography:
- Eurasia and Eastern Europe
3. Monitoring Country Progress in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
- Author:
- Robyn Murphy and Ron Sprout
- Publication Date:
- 09-2006
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- This paper presents an abridged version of USAID/E's 10th edition of its annual report which monitors country progress in the twenty-nine transition country region. The salient findings include: (1) 2005 progress in economic reforms in the transition region was comparable to the good pace of economic reforms in recent years. (2) 2005 data show a continuation of the growing democratization gap between CEE and Eurasia that has been evident since the early transition years. (3) The twenty nine transition countries generally fall into four fairly distinct reform groups: (a) Northern Tier CEE; (b) Southern Tier CEE; (c) Eurasian reformers; and (d) Eurasian non-reformers (Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan). (4) Economic growth rates in the region continue to exceed global norms, and within Eastern Europe and Eurasia, continue to be highest in Eurasia in large part due to favorable primary product trends. (5) Many social indicators continue to recover, apparently at least partly in response to improving economic conditions, including falling poverty and infant mortality rates, and rising real wages and education enrollment rates. (6) Yet many countries are (still) experiencing increasing unemployment rates and the life expectancy gap between CEE and Eurasia continues to grow. (7) And some of the transition countries have among the highest crude death rates worldwide along with among the lowest fertility rates (and birth rates) worldwide.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, and Health
- Political Geography:
- Eurasia, Eastern Europe, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus
4. Economic Reforms, Democracy and Growth in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
- Author:
- Robyn Murphy, Ron Sprout, and Paul Pleva
- Publication Date:
- 11-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- This research analyses the interaction between economic reforms, reforms, and economic growth. One of the salient characteristics of the transition region has been two very distinct patterns between economic and democratic reforms: convergence of the two reform dimensions in the CEE countries and divergence Eurasia. Nevertheless, results from econometric tests (which attempt to control for possible intervening influences) suggest that economic and democratic reforms are mutually reinforcing throughout the region, even in Eurasia. We also found evidencthat: (1) economic reforms have a stronger impact on democratic reforms than the reverse; (2) economic reforms favorably affect economic growth; (3) democratic refavorably affect economic growth indirectly (via economic reforms) if not directly; and (4) while the feedback effects from economic growth to reforms are more ambiguous, there is some evidence that economic growth may actually stifle democratic reforms, and/or economic contraction may facilitate democratization.
- Topic:
- Democratization, Development, and Economics
- Political Geography:
- Eurasia and Eastern Europe
5. Education in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
- Author:
- Robyn Murphy, Ron Sprout, and Matt Petric
- Publication Date:
- 10-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- Conventional wisdom has been that educational aspects of human capital in the former Communist countries were largely an asset going into the transition. However, it has also been widely perceived that the type of education in the Communist countries (with emphases on memorization at the expense of analytical and critical thinking, and perhaps premature specialization if not over-specialization) may be ill-suited for the needs of a market economy This study analyzes trends in four cross-country surveys of education performance: the Trends in International Mathematics and Sciences Study (TIMSS); the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS); the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS); and the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Salient “quantity” of education indicators (enrollment and expenditure trends) are also assessed and compared with the “quality” of education indicators from results of the cross-national performance surveys.
- Topic:
- Demographics, Development, and Education
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe
6. The Role Of Transition Assistance: The Case Of Kosovo
- Author:
- Glenn Slocum
- Publication Date:
- 11-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- The Center for Development Information and Evaluation (CDIE) has responsibility for conducting Agency-wide evaluations of USAID assistance topics of interest to USAID managers. In 2000, USAID initiated an evaluation of the role of transition assistance, with a specific emphasis on the role and activities of the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). Transition assistance, as used here, refers to the OTI-administered programs providing flexible, short-term responses to help advance peaceful, democratic change in conflict-prone countries. This assistance is usually provided during the two-year critical period after conflict when countries are most vulnerable to renewed conflict or instability.
- Topic:
- Democratization, Development, Economics, Government, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe and Kosovo
7. Urban and Industrial Pollution Programs: Czech Republic Case Study
- Author:
- Matthew Addison, Steven Gale, Keith Forbes, and Michael Gould
- Publication Date:
- 04-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- United States Agency for International Development
- Abstract:
- In 1995 USAID Launched the Environmental Action Program Support Project. EAPS grew out of a 1993 international conference held in Lucerne, Switzerland, to develop a joint environmental action program. The project sought to decrease environmental degradation in six central and eastern European countries that were making the transition from centrally controlled economies and authoritarian governments to open markets and more democratic institutions. The Czech Republic was the first USAID-assisted country where EAPS was implemented.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, Environment, and Government
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe, Switzerland, and Czech Republic