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12. Libel Tourism: Silencing the Press Through Transnational Legal Threats
- Author:
- Drew Sullivan
- Publication Date:
- 01-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- National Endowment for Democracy
- Abstract:
- The face of media around the world is changing. Traditional media in the United States are shrinking as the industry confronts both an extended recession and the long-term erosion of its economic model. In the developing world, the newly independent media of a decade ago maintain their vitality while attempting to find financial sustainability. The Internet has globalized the evolving media marketplace, and at the interstices of the media and internet businesses, new and exciting media organizations are springing up worldwide to fill needs in such areas as investigative reporting.
- Topic:
- Globalization, Markets, Third World, Mass Media, Financial Crisis, and Tourism
- Political Geography:
- United States
13. The Economics of Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events in Developing Countries
- Author:
- David Wheeler, Susmita Dasgupta, Benoit Laplante, and Brian Blankespoor
- Publication Date:
- 01-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development
- Abstract:
- Without international assistance, developing countries will adapt to climate change as best they can. Part of the cost will be absorbed by households and part by the public sector. Adaptation costs will themselves be affected by socioeconomic development, which will also be affected by climate change. Without a better understanding of these interactions, it will be difficult for climate negotiators and donor institutions to determine the appropriate levels and modes of adaptation assistance. This paper contributes by assessing the economics of adaptation to extreme weather events. We address several questions that are relevant for the international discussion: How will climate change alter the incidence of these events, and how will their impact be distributed geographically? How will future socioeconomic development, notably an increased focus on education and empowerment for women and girls, affect the vulnerability of affected communities? And, of primary interest to negotiators and donors, how much would it cost to neutralize the threat of additional losses in this context?
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Development, Third World, and Foreign Aid
14. Who Are the MDG Trailblazers? A New MDG Progress Index
- Author:
- Benjamin Lee and Julia Barmeier
- Publication Date:
- 08-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development
- Abstract:
- In September, world leaders will assemble in New York to review progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Ahead of the ensuing discussions, we examine how individual countries are faring towards achieving the highly ambitious MDG targets. We outline a new MDG Progress Index, which compares country performance against the core MDG targets on poverty, hunger, gender equality, education, child mortality, health, and water. Overall, we find evidence of dramatic achievements by many poor countries such as Honduras, Laos, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Nepal, Cambodia, and Ghana. In fact, these countries' performance suggests that they may achieve most of the highly ambitious MDGs. Moreover, sub-Saharan Africa accounts for many of the star MDG performers. Interestingly, poor countries perform nearly on par with middle-income countries. Not surprisingly, the list of laggards largely consists of countries devastated by conflict over the last few decades, such as Afghanistan, Burundi, the DRC, and Guinea-Bissau. Most countries fall somewhere in between, demonstrating solid progress on some indicators and little on others.
- Topic:
- Development, Human Welfare, Poverty, Third World, and United Nations
- Political Geography:
- Uganda, Africa, New York, Cambodia, Nepal, United Nations, and Ethiopia
15. Catalyzing Support for Small Growing Businesses in Developing Countries: Mapping the Policies of International Development Donors Investors
- Author:
- Estera Barbarasa
- Publication Date:
- 06-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Aspen Institute
- Abstract:
- This report depicts the landscape of development organizations that fund and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries: multilateral development banks, bilateral government donor agencies, and development finance institutions (DFIs). The report is a new contribution to both the development community, as well as the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE). Advocacy and policy work is a strategic priority for ANDE, and the report's findings will enable the Network to understand the international development community and to be more strategic in its approach as it seeks to influence and shape the international development SME agenda.
- Topic:
- Development, International Trade and Finance, Third World, Foreign Aid, and Foreign Direct Investment
16. Registering Reporters: How Licensing of Journalists Threatens Independent Media
- Author:
- Steven Strasser
- Publication Date:
- 11-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- National Endowment for Democracy
- Abstract:
- How should a society choose those who can be entrusted with the power of the news media? For a time after World War II, many developing countries emerging from colonialism thought they had the answer: Governments should license journalists to support the crucial work of forging modern national identities. In a world of violently competing political ideas, these governments carefully vetted those who would follow the correct line. Freedom of the press was considered an unaffordable luxury. New countries attempting to find stability inside and outside of their borders needed a press that promoted patriotism, unity, and strong government.
- Topic:
- Democratization, Third World, and Mass Media
17. The financial crisis and lower income countries: A preliminary synthesis of findings on impacts, responses and lessons
- Author:
- Sam Jones
- Publication Date:
- 11-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Danish Institute for International Studies
- Abstract:
- This paper synthesizes findings from a range of studies presented at a recent conference on the financial crisis held at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). Focusing on low and lower-middle income countries, the studies explore the impacts, responses and initial lessons of the crisis. The complex and diverse nature of these impacts at both the aggregate and household levels are highlighted, as is the need to reconsider conventional policy advice. Considerations for future research directions are also presented.
- Topic:
- Economics, Third World, Global Recession, and Financial Crisis
18. The Costs and Benefits of Duty-Free, Quota-Free Market Access for Poor Countries: Who and What Matters
- Author:
- Kimberly Elliott, Antoine Bouët, David Laborde Debucquet, and Elisa Dienesch
- Publication Date:
- 03-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development
- Abstract:
- This paper examines the potential benefits and costs of providing duty-free, quota-free market access to the least developed countries (LDCs), and the effects of extending eligibility to other small and poor countries. Using the MIRAGE computable general equilibrium model, it assesses the impact of scenarios involving different levels of coverage for products, recipient countries, and preference-giving countries on participating countries, as well as competing developing countries that are excluded. The main goal of this paper is to highlight the role that rich and emerging countries could play in helping poor countries to improve their trade performance and to assess the distribution of costs and benefits for developing countries and whether the potential costs for domestic producers are in line with political feasibility in preference-giving countries.
- Topic:
- Economics, International Political Economy, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Third World
19. Open Markets for the Poorest Countries: Trade Preferences That Work
- Author:
- Kimberly Ann Elliott
- Publication Date:
- 04-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development
- Abstract:
- Trade preference programs are an important and underused tool for stimulating exports, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and promoting prosperity and stability in poor countries. While many rich countries provide special access for exports from the least developed countries (LDCs) to promote these benefits, the trade preferences often do not extend to the products that matter most to LDCs, such as agriculture and clothing. Improving these programs could make a major difference in the lives of the poor, while having minimal effects on production or exports in preference-giving countries because the affected trade is so small: less than 1 percent of global exports are from LDCs. And, in the longer term, improved trade preferences for LDCs will promote shared prosperity and stability in rich and poor countries alike. Recognizing the role of trade in poverty reduction, the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for poor countries call on high-income countries to provide duty-free, quota-free market access for the LDCs.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, International Political Economy, International Trade and Finance, Poverty, and Third World
20. Making Trade Preferences Work for the Poorest Countries
- Author:
- Kimberly Ann Elliott
- Publication Date:
- 04-2010
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development
- Abstract:
- Trade preference programs can reduce poverty and promote prosperity and stability in the world's poorest countries, but they often fall short of their intended goals. They regularly exclude commodities that poor countries can produce competitively, such as agricultural products and clothing, and many programs must be frequently renewed, creating uncertainty and discouraging investment. Extending comprehensive, usable, and predictable quota-free market access to all least developed countries could provide a critical boost to the world's poorest people with only trivial effects on preference-giving countries. G-20 leaders should embrace trade preference reform this year to promote growth and stability in the world's poorest countries.
- Topic:
- International Trade and Finance, Markets, Poverty, and Third World