Sort by:
Showing all content in Firms
-
Event
IMF Forum on Economic Policy Priorities in Sierra Leone
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Sierra Leone Ministry of Finance and Economic Development invited the IGC to contribute in a High-Level Forum on Economic Policy Priorities in Freetown. The purpose of the forum was to discuss economic policy priorities with the newly elected President Maada Bio by taking stock of recent economic developments and identify policy...
-
Blog post
Trade liberalisation in developing countries: the importance of roads
Research on Ethiopia shows that trade liberalisation can boost the productivity of firms in developing countries, but only if they have access to good roads. Gains from trade liberalisation are not uniform within countries Many developing countries have liberalised trade in the hope that greater international exposure will improve the performance of local firms. Lower...
-
Publication - Growth Brief
Management delivers: Why firms should invest in better business practices
There is a stark difference in firm productivity and growth between developing and advanced economies. Improving the management of firms in developing countries can help bridge this gap. New research shows that introducing management practices to firms can have lasting impacts on their productivity and growth. When Indian firms adopted management practices, their...
-
Blog post
EU-Africa trade relations: Why Africa needs the economic partnership agreements
Africa should ratify the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), make use of their flexibilities, if necessary, and hold the EU’s feet to the fire on the implementation of the EPA’s development component. The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are trade deals between Europe and regions in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, designed to end preferential treatment...
-
Blog post
Can the MSME sector transform the Tanzanian economy?
Although it’s true that the average MSMEs and informal firm is small and doesn’t grow, this doesn’t mean that MSMEs don’t have a key role to play in economic growth and structural transformation. Evidence suggests that a small number of high growth firms can have a growth and productivity impact. Policy needs to accommodate different types of MSMEs and target policy...
-
Event
Workshop: Uganda’s Arabica coffee value chain development opportunities
The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), in partnership with the IGC, co-hosts a technical workshop on opportunities for the development of Uganda’s Arabica coffee value chain. A recent IGC policy paper sets out the view that the current perception of Ugandan coffee, both in the trade and among end consumers, lags the reality by several years. By raising...
-
Publication - Policy Brief
Learning from Thilawa Special Economic Zone (Burmese version)
-
Publication - Policy Brief
Learning from Thilawa Special Economic Zone
Firms in Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) have created around 5,000 jobs inside the zone as of 1 February 2018. Analysis suggests that the most important benefit for workers in the zone is the knowledge and skills they acquire on the job. This benefit is even more important among managers, suggesting that knowledge transfers from workers transitioning to companies...
-
Event
Research dissemination workshop: Government demand and firm performance
Can government procurement be used as an effective instrument to promote local industrial development? A few governments in Africa and the developing world have established reservation policies that favour domestic firms over import competition in public procurement. However, very little research has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of these programs. Are...
-
Publication - Policy Brief
Firm performance and participation in public procurement: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa
Public procurement of goods and services accounts for more than 10 percent of GDP in many African countries meaning that governments are an important source of demand. This study uses firm-level data from 19 sub-Saharan African countries to assess the productivity performance of firms participating in public procurement. The findings suggest that companies that...