rafmacalaba/datause-encoder-data huggingface dataset:
Supply-side school improvement and
            the learning achievement of the poorest children in
            indigenous and rural schools - the case of PARE
In the past, research findings indicated
            that most of the differences in student learning were due to
            socioeconomic factors, and that, therefore, the effect of
            direct educational interventions to reduce learning
            inequality was very limited. However, the authors show that
            learning achievement could increase through appropriately
            designed, and reasonably well-implemented interventions. An
            examination of Mexico's PARE program reveals that an
            increase in learning achievement could be possible for
            rural, and indigenous schools. The authors' overall
            conclusion is that supply-side interventions can have
            substantial effects on the learning achievement of children
            in indigenous, and rural schools in poor areas. But greater
            attention needs to be paid to the poorest of the
            disadvantaged children. This positive conclusion, however,
            should be tempered by results of the urban sample,
            confirming earlier findings of the negative relationship
            between PARE, and student learning growth.
Supply-side school improvement and
            the learning achievement of the poorest children in
            indigenous and rural schools - the case of PARE
WPS3172

**Supply-Side School Improvement and the Learning Achievement of the Poorest Children in Indigenous and Rural Schools: the Case of PARE**

# Vicente Paqueo and Gladys Lopez-Acevedo<sup>∗</sup>

## <u>Abstract</u>

In the past, research findings indicated that most of the differences in student learning was due to socioeconomic factors and that, therefore, the effect of direct educational interventions to reduce learning inequality was very limited. However, this paper shows that learning achievement could increase through appropriately designed and reasonably well-implemented interventions. An examination of Mexico’s PARE program reveals that an increase in learning achievement could be possible for rural and indigenous schools. The overall conclusion is that supply-side interventions can have substantial effects on the learning achievement of children in indigenous and rural schools in poor areas. Greater attention, however, needs to be paid to the poorest of the disadvantaged children. This positive conclusion, however, should be tempered by results of the urban sample, confirming earlier findings of the negative relationship between PARE and student learning growth.

World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3172, December 2003 _The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the view of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent. Policy Research Working Papers are available online at http://econ.worldbank.org._

> ∗ Vicente Paqueo is Lead Economist, HD, and Gladys Lopez is Economist, PREM at the World Bank.
Combining insurance, contingent
            debt, and self-retention in an optimal corporate risk
            financing strategy
The authors provide a conceptual
            framework for designing a comprehensive risk financing
            strategy for a firm, using an optimal combination of three
            instruments: self-retention, contingent debt, and insurance.
            Using an original conceptual model, the risk management
            decisions of the firm are first decomposed into two
            sets-choosing attachment points for each layer of financing
            used in the overall risk financing structure, and, then
            determining optimal risk allocation arrangements within each
            layer of risk. This model allows the authors to show how
            these optimal risk financing arrangements are driven by the
            costs of risk management instruments, the risk
            characteristics, and the firm's borrowing constraints.
            Finally, the authors provide an original perspective to
            think about optimal ex ante risk management strategies,
            based on a combination of insurance, savings, and credit at
            the microeconomic or macroeconomic levels.
The privatization of the Russian
            coal industry: policies and processes in the transformation
            of a major industry
This paper provides an overview of the
            privatization of the Russian coal industry. It reviews the
            salient aspects of the Government's privatization
            policy as it evolved over the years, and looks at the
            reasons for the successes and the pitfalls encountered along
            the way. Specific procedures and methods of sale are
            described in detail. A profile of the new owners of the
            industry is given, with a look at the implications for
            competition in the industry and at first performance
            indicators. As the World Bank has been closely involved in
            the support of the Government's coal sector
            restructuring program through provision of financing and
            policy advice, throughout the paper aspects of World Bank
            advice are considered.
Oil, agriculture, and the public
            sector: linking intersector dynamics in Ecuador
In a recent paper, Fiess and Verner
            (2000) analyse sectoral growth in Ecuador and find
            significant long-run and short-run relationships between the
            agricultural, industrial and service sectors. They take this
            as evidence against the dual economy model which rules out a
            long-run relationship between agricultural and industrial
            output and show further that a more detailed picture of the
            growth process can be discovered, once the agricultural,
            industrial and service sectors are disaggregated further
            into intrasector components. This paper extends their
            initial results and provides insight from a multivariate
            cointegration analysis of intrasector components. The
            authors are able to identify three cointegrating
            relationships, each of which has its own meaningful economic
            interpretation: Two cointegration relationships capture the
            direct and indirect effects of the "petrolization"
            of the Ecuadorian economy. A third relationship clearly
            indicates a link between agriculture and industrial
            activity. Since this third cointegrating relationship seems
            to coincide in time with the trade liberalisation at the end
            of the 1980s, promoting agriculture appears to be an
            important way to promote sustainable economic growth in Ecuador.
Pre-empting protectionism in
            services - the WTO and outsourcing
Cross-border trade in services is
            growing rapidly, with both industrial and developing
            countries among the most dynamic exporters. Despite the
            substantial global benefits from such trade, the adjustment
            pressures created in importing countries could provoke a
            protectionist backlash-some signs of which are already
            visible in procurement and regulatory restrictions. The
            current negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda offer
            an opportunity to lock in current openness and preempt
            protectionism. This paper describes how a bold initiative
            under the General Agreement on Trade in Services can help
            secure openness.
Incidence analysis of public support
            to the private education sector in Cote d'Ivoire
This report analyzes the equity effects
            of public subsidization of private schools in Cote
            d'Ivoire, updates previous analyses, and attempts to
            assess how efficiently public spending is targeted. The
            subsidy per student in private (and public) schools
            increases at higher quintiles. Students from families in the
            highest quintile receive more than twice the subsidy
            received by students from families in the lowest quintile,
            compared with four times more in the case of students
            attending public schools. However, the subsidy system is
            progressive as there is a clear tendency for the share of
            family education expenditure covered by subsidies to decline
            at higher quintiles. This element of progressivity is
            stronger in the case of private school attendance.
Incidence analysis of public support
            to the private education sector in Cote d'Ivoire
WPS 3231

# **Incidence Analysis of Public Support to the Private Education**

# **Sector in Côte d’Ivoire***

## **Chris Sakellariou**

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore <u>acsake@ntu.edu.sg</u>

**Harry Anthony Patrinos** World Bank <u>hpatrinos@worldbank.org</u>

<u>Abstract.</u> This study analyzes the equity effects of public subsidization of private schools in Côte d’Ivoire, updates previous analyses, and attempts to assess how efficiently public spending is targeted. The subsidy per student in private (and public) schools increases at higher quintiles. Students from families in the highest quintile receive more than twice the subsidy received by students from families in the lowest quintile, compared with four times more in the case of students attending public schools. However, the subsidy system is progressive as there is a clear tendency for the share of family education expenditure covered by subsidies to decline at higher quintiles. This element of progressivity is stronger in the case of private school attendance.

JEL Classification Codes: I20, I22, I28 Keywords: Contracting, Human capital, Vouchers World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3231, March 2004 _The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the view of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent. Policy Research Working Papers are available online at http://econ.worldbank.org._

* This study was funded in part by the Research Support Budget under the research project, “Incidence Analysis of Public Support to the Private Sector in Côte d’Ivoire” (RF-P076457RESE-BBRSB).  The following persons provided useful comments on earlier drafts of this paper: Shantayanan Devarajan, Linda English, Benoit Millot, Francoise Nankobogo, Ronald Perkinson, George Psacharopoulos, Rachidi Radji and Ayesha Vawda.
Trade, regulations, and growth
Trade does not stimulate growth in
            economies with excessive business and labor regulations. The
            authors examine the effect of openness on growth using
            cross-country regressions in both levels and changes.
            Results from the levels regressions imply that increased
            openness is associated with a lower standard of living in
            heavily-regulated economies. Growth regressions confirm that
            the effect of increased trade on growth is absent in these
            countries. The authors also find that once they control for
            the effect of trade on growth in heavily regulated
            economies, the evidence that trade positively affects growth
            is stronger than has been found in previous studies.
            Excessive regulations restrict growth because resources are
            prevented from moving into the most productive sectors and
            to the most efficient firms following liberalization. In
            addition, in highly regulated economies, increased trade is
            more likely to occur in the wrong goods-that is, goods where
            comparative advantage does not lie. The results imply that
            countries must create a sound business environment before
            trade can be used as an engine of growth.
Trade, regulations, and growth
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# **Trade, Regulations, and Growth**

Bineswaree Bolaky Caroline Freund* University of Maryland The World Bank

# March 2004

Abstract: Trade does not stimulate growth in economies with excessive regulation. We examine the effect of openness on growth using cross-country regressions on data from more than 100 countries. Results from levels regressions imply that increased openness is, if anything, associated with a lower standard of living in heavily-regulated economies. Growth regressions confirm that the effect of increased trade on growth is absent in highly regulated countries. Once we control for the effect of domestic regulation, the evidence that trade positively affects growth is stronger than has been found in previous studies. Excessive regulations restrict growth because resources are prevented from moving into the most productive sectors and to the most efficient firms within sectors. In addition, in highly regulated economies, increased trade is more likely to occur in the wrong goods—i.e. goods where comparative advantage does not lie. The results imply that regulatory reform enhances the benefits of trade liberalization.

> *  We are grateful to Mary Amiti, Simeon Djankov, Jose Garcia-Montalvo, Hiau Looi Kee, Aart Kraay, Daniel Lederman, Philip Levy, Marcelo Olarreaga and participants at the World Bank seminar for comments on an earlier draft.  Correspondence: The World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington DC, 20433, email: <u>cfreund@worldbank.org , tel: 202-473-7102.</u>
Efficiency and equity of a marginal
            tax reform - income, quality, and price elasticities for Mexico
The author investigates the effects of a
            marginal tax reform on household welfare in Mexico. He
            estimates the extent to which Mexican households react to
            changes in prices, and uses the estimates to simulate
            changes in social welfare resulting from marginal tax
            reform. Results indicate that poorer households tend to have
            significantly larger income and price elasticities. Hence,
            to correctly evaluate the effects of economic policies on
            the poor, it is important to estimate elasticities that
            reflect the behavioral responses of the poor rather than of
            the entire population. The results from the micro simulation
            suggest that since poorer households rely mostly on maize,
            legumes, and vegetables to fulfill their caloric intake, any
            price reform that reduces the price of these products will
            have a larger effect on the welfare of poor households. In
            particular, reducing the taxes on maize, alcoholic
            beverages, and vegetables would be both more equitable and
            more efficient in terms of social welfare. Meanwhile, a
            reduction in the tax on legumes, sugar, and oils and fats,
            while inefficient, would contribute to reduce inequality.
            Finally, a decrease in the price of meat, wheat, and dairy
            products, while benefiting higher-income households, would
            have only a marginal impact on poorer households.
Does cross-listing lead to
            functional convergence Empirical evidence
The author examines the effect of legal
            bonding on ownership and control structures of foreign firms
            cross-listing in the United States. Contrary to the
            predictions of corporate governance convergence theories,
            there is little evidence of convergence-related migration to
            a dispersed ownership structure on cross-listing. She finds
            that rather than as a means to change their governance
            structure, foreign firms use American Depository Receipts as
            a vehicle to sell control blocks, often to a new foreign
            owner. Firms that cross-list and sell stakes to domestic
            owners are from large economies with high stock market
            liquidity. In contrast, firm-level characteristics are more
            important predictors of a control change to a foreign owner.
            Cross-listing firms that sell control blocks to foreigners
            tend to be smaller, have low levels of debt, and have a high
            foreign income growth rate. The post cross-listing
            performance of firms that undergo a control change is also
            different from firms that do not experience a control change.
Gender equality and economic
            development : the role for information and communication technologies
The author focuses on the role that
            information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play
            in improving gender equality, so as to enhance long-term
            economic growth. Employing OLS and IV panel regressions with
            country fixed-effects, he shows that increases in the level
            of ICT infrastructure tend to improve gender equality in
            education and employment. In addition, the author shows that
            education among the general population is important for
            improving gender equality. The results provide evidence
            indicating that gender equality in education is an important
            contributor to gender equality in employment. Lastly, the
            results show that economic development tends to lead to some
            improvements in gender equality in the labor market. Hence,
            the use of ICTs to improve gender equality in education and
            employment may initiate a continuous cycle of positive
            reinforcing feedback effects between gender equality in
            employment and economic development, leading to further
            improvements in both.
When is growth pro-poor
            Cross-country evidence
Growth is pro-poor if the poverty
            measure of interest falls. According to this definition
            there are three potential sources of pro-poor growth: (1) a
            high rate of growth of average incomes; (2) a high
            sensitivity of poverty to growth in average incomes; and (3)
            a poverty-reducing pattern of growth in relative incomes.
            The author empirically decomposes changes in poverty in a
            large sample of developing countries during the 1980s and
            1990s into these three components. In the medium to long
            run, most of the variation in changes in poverty can be
            attributed to growth in average incomes, suggesting that
            policies and institutions that promote broad-based growth
            should be central to the pro-poor growth agenda. Most of the
            remainder of the variation in poverty is due to
            poverty-reducing patterns of growth in relative incomes,
            rather than differences in the sensitivity of poverty to
            growth in average incomes. Cross-country evidence provides
            relatively little guidance as to the policies and
            institutions that promote these other sources of pro-poor growth.
Insurance regulation in Jordan : New
            rules--old system
The Jordanian insurance market has been
            free from extensive state ownership and pervasive premium,
            product, investment, and reinsurance controls. However,
            these positive features have been marred by the licensing of
            a large number of private companies, often on political
            rather than professional criteria, and the resulting
            fragmentation of the sector. Various policies have
            perpetuated the fragmentation of the sector, while
            regulatory forbearance has allowed the continuing operation
            of several weak companies. Despite the avoidance of
            pervasive controls and extensive state ownership, and the
            presence of a large number of private companies, the
            insurance industry is not well developed. This mainly
            reflects the underdevelopment of life insurance. In
            contrast, the level of general insurance is comparable to
            several other developing countries in the region and
            elsewhere. A major modernization effort has been undertaken
            in recent years. This has included the enactment of a new
            insurance law and the creation of a new Insurance
            Commission. The latter has made considerable progress in
            expanding its staff, undertaking a wide-ranging training
            program to upgrade skills, and implementing a multi-year
            action plan aimed at modernizing the regulatory framework
            and enhancing the efficiency of the sector.
A policy note on telecommunications
            reform in Algeria
By the end of the 1990s, most industrial
            and many developing countries had liberalized their
            telecommunications markets to improve service accessibility
            and affordability for both businesses and households. In
            contrast, Algeria still managed its telecommunications
            sector as public property. The Ministry of Post and
            Telecommunications set the policy, enforced regulation, and
            was in charge of service provision. The sector suffered from
            huge supply shortages, the waiting list lengthened, the
            quality of service deteriorated and unbalanced the overall
            fiscal situation. In 1999, a new government appointed in the
            aftermath of President Bouteflika's election decided to
            change the situation and launched a comprehensive sector
            reform. Um reviews progress made in implementing this
            reform, discusses its preliminary impact, and comments on
            the main lessons learned. The author shows that by
            restraining arbitrary administrative action during the
            reform implementation, the government of Algeria laid the
            foundation for sustainable growth in the telecommunications sector.