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Biodiversity conservation in low-income economies is a vital issue and hence needs to be addressed for development and poverty eradication. A variety of empirical works exist on the subject, but the focus is often limited on the search for possible causes of biodiversity erosion. Research on the "driving forces" that influence biodiversity conservation effort is still largely missing, especially for developing countries. In this study, we seek to address this gap. We test, using different models, the impact of some domestic and external factors on countries' conservation effort measured by the Ecoregion score. We examine specifically whether strategic interactions matter in conservation policymaking at the country level. The model is tested on a data set comprising 48 sub-Saharan African countries spanning over the period 1990-2009. Through the obtained results, we give empirical evidence that, in the context of underdevelopment especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, strengthening governance is an effective mean to support the promotion of biodiversity conservation. In addition, we find that countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are influenced by their contiguous neighbors in environmental policy for biodiversity management. Finally, the results suggest that tourism development is a valuable incentive to raise governments' dedication to conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In September 2010, the Overseas Development Institute was tasked by the Knowledge Management Center, in the Regional and Sustainable Development Department (RSDD) in ADB, to conduct a study of ADB's knowledge taxonomy.3 The aim was to explore, recommend, and draw implications from a classification of knowledge products and services to improve ADB's organizational efficiency, from an internal and external perspective.

This Financial Sector Operational Plan aims to articulate the financial sector agendas of Strategy 2020 and guide its implementation by ADB. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) issued its long-term strategic framework, Strategy 2020, in April 2008 to guide its operations to meet the changing assistance needs of its developing members. The strategy identified financial sector development as one of the five focal areas of ADB's operations through 2020. This Financial Sector Operational Plan aims to articulate the financial sector agendas of Strategy 2020 and guide its implementation by ADB.

In September 2010, the Overseas Development Institute was tasked by the Knowledge Management Center, in the Regional and Sustainable Development Department (RSDD) in ADB, to conduct a study of ADB's knowledge taxonomy.3 The aim was to explore, recommend, and draw implications from a classification of knowledge products and services to improve ADB's organizational efficiency, from an internal and external perspective.

This Financial Sector Operational Plan aims to articulate the financial sector agendas of Strategy 2020 and guide its implementation by ADB. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) issued its long-term strategic framework, Strategy 2020, in April 2008 to guide its operations to meet the changing assistance needs of its developing members. The strategy identified financial sector development as one of the five focal areas of ADB's operations through 2020. This Financial Sector Operational Plan aims to articulate the financial sector agendas of Strategy 2020 and guide its implementation by ADB.

This policy note assesses tax administration measures and tax rate adjustments, two options for the Philippines' fiscal consolidation in terms of their efficiency for revenue mobilization and impacts on tax equity. Its key findings are: 1) a policy mix of a higher value-added tax and a lower corporate income tax will make the overall tax system more regressive, even if its impact on tax revenue is neutral; 2) the country's tax productivity is much lower than those of its peers in the region, which signals the presence of significant tax loopholes and weak tax administration; and, 3) there is ample room to increase excise taxes on tobacco, alcoholic products, and gasoline, without ruining the equity of the tax system. These suggest that tax administration remains a key focus of efforts for the new administration.

This publication presents an overview of tax policy and tax administration issues - how countries in Asia and the Pacific compare with the rest of the world in main taxes, revenue collections, tax morale, and others. The implications of reducing reliance on customs tariff revenues and of using the value-added tax on a broader basis, especially in the services sector, have been analyzed. This note suggests an agenda for reform by discussing whether there is space to increase national revenue collections, how to improve tax administration and enforcement, and how these reforms interact with the decentralization paradigm. The individual country performances, the extent of the shadow economy, and lessons on reforming tax administration have been referenced.

Funds for Development: Multilateral Channels of Concessional Financing, edited by Gerd Droesse, with contributions from senior experts of several international organizations, examines the concessional windows of the World Bank Group, African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and other multilateral financial development institutions. It also looks into trust funds, multipurpose vehicles, special facilities, and financial intermediary funds, such as the Global Environment Facility, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. It is an extensive study of the legal frameworks of such concessional windows, their modalities of concessional financing, resource structures and replenishment procedures, and analyzes how such replenishment efforts are implemented and impact on the development activities of these institutions. This book also analyzes different paradigms of organizational structures and the close connection between such structures and the institutional frameworks governing matters such as membership, representation in governing bodies, decision-making procedures, and voting rights - all of which play a part in the shaping of aid discussions. In navigating the ever-increasingly complex landscape of aid architecture, this book is a valuable guide for all persons interested in concessional financing and the law of international organizations.

This policy note assesses tax administration measures and tax rate adjustments, two options for the Philippines' fiscal consolidation in terms of their efficiency for revenue mobilization and impacts on tax equity. Its key findings are: 1) a policy mix of a higher value-added tax and a lower corporate income tax will make the overall tax system more regressive, even if its impact on tax revenue is neutral; 2) the country's tax productivity is much lower than those of its peers in the region, which signals the presence of significant tax loopholes and weak tax administration; and, 3) there is ample room to increase excise taxes on tobacco, alcoholic products, and gasoline, without ruining the equity of the tax system. These suggest that tax administration remains a key focus of efforts for the new administration.

This publication presents an overview of tax policy and tax administration issues - how countries in Asia and the Pacific compare with the rest of the world in main taxes, revenue collections, tax morale, and others. The implications of reducing reliance on customs tariff revenues and of using the value-added tax on a broader basis, especially in the services sector, have been analyzed. This note suggests an agenda for reform by discussing whether there is space to increase national revenue collections, how to improve tax administration and enforcement, and how these reforms interact with the decentralization paradigm. The individual country performances, the extent of the shadow economy, and lessons on reforming tax administration have been referenced.

Funds for Development: Multilateral Channels of Concessional Financing, edited by Gerd Droesse, with contributions from senior experts of several international organizations, examines the concessional windows of the World Bank Group, African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and other multilateral financial development institutions. It also looks into trust funds, multipurpose vehicles, special facilities, and financial intermediary funds, such as the Global Environment Facility, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. It is an extensive study of the legal frameworks of such concessional windows, their modalities of concessional financing, resource structures and replenishment procedures, and analyzes how such replenishment efforts are implemented and impact on the development activities of these institutions. This book also analyzes different paradigms of organizational structures and the close connection between such structures and the institutional frameworks governing matters such as membership, representation in governing bodies, decision-making procedures, and voting rights - all of which play a part in the shaping of aid discussions. In navigating the ever-increasingly complex landscape of aid architecture, this book is a valuable guide for all persons interested in concessional financing and the law of international organizations.

The financial sector in Bangladesh remains at an early stage of development. It needs to be strengthened and invigorated so it can fulfill its dual role of reducing poverty and promoting economic growth. This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the financial sector in Bangladesh and pinpoints areas of weakness in its subsectors. Broad reforms to the sector and complementary parallel reforms are set out.

Despite the trend toward financial sector liberalization in recent years, state ownership of financial institutions remains widespread in the developing world. However, in general, state-owned financial institutions have under performed their private sector counterparts, and governments have sought to restructure them. This case study reviews the transformation of Bank Rakyat Indonesia from a loss-producing, overstaffed state-owned bank to the most profitable bank with the largest microbanking network in Indonesia. From the bank's experience the study seeks to draw decisive lessons for the successful transformation of other state-owned financial institutions. For Bank Rakyat Indonesia, the key driver of successful reform was the government's commitment to allow it the autonomy to restructure itself-including an emphasis on good corporate governance, supported by appropriate regulations and effective supervision.

The financial sector in Bangladesh remains at an early stage of development. It needs to be strengthened and invigorated so it can fulfill its dual role of reducing poverty and promoting economic growth. This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the financial sector in Bangladesh and pinpoints areas of weakness in its subsectors. Broad reforms to the sector and complementary parallel reforms are set out.

This paper provides evidence of a change in the relationship between individual satisfaction with the state of country's economy and income inequality during transition from a command to market economic system. Using data from a series of extensive and frequent surveys of Polish population, we identify a structural break in this relationship. In the beginning of transition, an increase in income inequality is interpreted by population as a positive signal of increased opportunities; this sentiment is particularly strong among older people and people with right-wing political views. Later in the transition period, increased inequality becomes an important reason for dissatisfaction of the public with the country's economic situation and reforms, as people become more skeptical about the legitimacy of income generation process. We also provide direct evidence from opinion polls of a change in the public sentiment about income inequality. ; Cet article illustre le retournement de la tolérance aux inégalités au cours d'une période de forte croissance et de transformation économique et politique rapide. Il s'appuie sur l'expérience polonaise de transition économique et explore les attitudes subjectives des citoyens recueillies dans des enquêtes répétées, à haute fréquence, de 1992 à 2005. Une rupture entre l'inégalité et la satisfaction est identifiée aux alentours de l'année 1997. Cette évolution coïncide avec la montée, au sein de la population, d'un certain rejet des élites politiques.