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The main goal of this paper is to discuss the dynamics of public debt servicing – both domestic and foreign – in Zambia, tracing the trends, reforms and challenges over the period from 1964 to 2015. The paper shows that the exceptional rise in public debt servicing obligations in Zambia over the period under review has been principally due to high domestic and foreign interest rates, frequent debt rescheduling at commercial rates, and capitalisation of non-liquidated service obligations at commercial rates. Also revealed in the paper is the fact that prior to 2005, Zambia experienced severe public debt servicing problems which eased after 2006 owing to debt relief initiatives and an economic rebound. Among the government debt service reforms discussed in the paper are structural adjustments in foreign exchange management, fiscal and monetary reforms, and aggressive engagement of traditional creditors. Primary among the identified challenges of public debt servicing in Zambia was the insistent economic crises that dogged the country during the study period. Notwithstanding the current public debt service sustainability and remarkable economic performance that characterise the country today, the paper found that the recent contraction of nonconcessional loans by the state poses a threat to debt service sustainability in future. Hence, the paper recommends, among other things, for aligning of public sector infrastructure spending with revenues to ensure budget sustainability, and to continue diversifying the economy to minimise the impact of external commodity price shocks on the economy. ; The main goal of this paper is to discuss the dynamics of public debt servicing – both domestic and foreign – in Zambia, tracing the trends, reforms and challenges over the period from 1964 to 2015. The paper shows that the exceptional rise in public debt servicing obligations in Zambia over the period under review has been principally due to high domestic and foreign interest rates, frequent debt rescheduling at commercial rates, and capitalisation of non-liquidated service obligations at commercial rates. Also revealed in the paper is the fact that prior to 2005, Zambia experienced severe public debt servicing problems which eased after 2006 owing to debt relief initiatives and an economic rebound. Among the government debt service reforms discussed in the paper are structural adjustments in foreign exchange management, fiscal and monetary reforms, and aggressive engagement of traditional creditors. Primary among the identified challenges of public debt servicing in Zambia was the insistent economic crises that dogged the country during the study period. Notwithstanding the current public debt service sustainability and remarkable economic performance that characterise the country today, the paper found that the recent contraction of nonconcessional loans by the state poses a threat to debt service sustainability in future. Hence, the paper recommends, among other things, for aligning of public sector infrastructure spending with revenues to ensure budget sustainability, and to continue diversifying the economy to minimise the impact of external commodity price shocks on the economy.

Cilj ovog rada je ispitati odrednice javnog duga u zemljama zapadnog Balkana, s naglaskom na učinke gospodarskog rasta i socijalnih izdataka. Studija pokriva razdoblje od 2006. do 2017. godine i primjenjujemo dinamičku panel analizu, korištenjem diferenciranog i sistemskog GMM procjenitelja. Rezultati sugeriraju da inkrementalna promjena rasta značajno smanjuje dug, dok socijalni izdaci podižu omjer duga prema BDP-u. Također, postoji negativan odnos između inflacije i duga, dok otplaćivanje kamata na prethodno zaduživanje dodatno povećava javni dug. Konačno, nezaposlenost u ovom modelu nije statistički značajna. Glavna implikacija studije je da kreatori politika u ovim zemljama trebaju favorizirati politike usmjerene na rast i socijalne reforme orijentirane na djelotvornost, kako bi javni dug bio održiv na duže staze. ; The aim of this paper is to examine the determinants of public debt in the Western Balkan countries, with an emphasis on the effects of economic growth and social expenditures. The study covers the period 2006-2017, and we implement the dynamic panel GMM estimation, using both first-difference and system GMM. The results suggest that incremental growth change significantly reduces debt, while social expenditures push the debt-to-GDP ratio up. Also, there is a negative relation between inflation and debt, while interest payments on previous borrowing increase public debt additionally. Finally, unemployment is not statistically significant in this setting. The main policy implication is that policy makers in these countries should favor a growth-oriented policy toolbox and efficiency-oriented social reforms, in order to keep the public debt sustainable in the long run.

The author applies a variant of the common pool resources theory to the problem of public spending under the coalition governments elected by proportional representation. The claim is that proportional representation produces cabinets with a large number of parties, and that a large number of parties brings about higher public spending (measured by budget deficit and public debt). The author constructs and deploys the concept of budgetary dilemma to the effect that, absent institutional constraints, public spending results in expansionary fiscal policy. In the second part, the author empirically tests the budgetary dilemma in two postcommunist democracies - Serbia and Croatia, which in 2000-2013 had cabinets with a large number of actors and increasing public spending. The analysis shows a statistically unreliable predictive capacity of the main independent variable - the number of parties in the cabinet. Statistical analysis is followed by several illustrations of the budgetary dilemma. Adapted from the source document.

The author is critical of the introduction of the euro from the point of view of national & political economy. His criticism is based on four assumptions. The first is that the introduction of the euro gives rise to certain legal concerns. Some countries had not met the criteria for the introduction of the euro, yet it was introduced, which means that the European parliament & the national governments & their parliaments no longer respect the due process of law. The second is that the foreign debt, which amounts to 120% of GNP, is impossible to repay in those democracies that are not in the position to impose austerity measures that would include several legislatures. The third criticism is based on the fact that European countries are at different levels of development, which makes the monetary union much too vulnerable. The fourth criticism refers to the fact that common currency means common policy, &, consequently, the end of nation-states in Europe. Croatia may join the EU, but this would pose a challenge to its national sovereignty. 2 Tables. Adapted from the source document.

The debtors' crisis at the end of the 20th century is a hard reality facing transitional countries (and others as well). However, to borrow or not to borrow is a false dilemma. In the situation when in most transitional countries, the local accumulation is insufficient for financing economic development & completing the transitional process, the only alternative is borrowing. This is particularly unavoidable when the influx of foreign capital via direct investments is meager. This is also true for the Republic of Croatia, in which the level of direct investments is, for the time being, very modest. Borrowing, particularly from foreign countries, calls for a high degree of caution, a well-thought out approach to borrowing, & the rational use of the loans. 5 Tables, 14 References. Adapted from the source document.

The author explores the evolution, functioning, similarities & differences between the original Bretton Woods international monetary system that operated from 1945 to 1973 & the present modified institution, which is symbolically called Bretton Woods 2 System. The existing international financial architecture keeps on being based on the hegemony of the US dollar, as a dominant reserve currency. However, in spite of the fact that in most cases the present international monetary system implies the regime of flexible foreign exchanges rates, a characteristic of this system is that many countries in different degrees refuse to accept the appreciation of their national currencies to the US dollar. At the same time, the domination of the USA, the most indebted country in the world, is becoming a very serious threat to its sustainability. However, as the author concludes, the creators of the international monetary system, being aware how serious could be the consequences of its cessation, endeavor to extend its operation accepting less expensive consequences of keeping it alive. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.

The author applies a variant of the common pool resources theory to the problem of public spending under the coalition governments elected by proportional representation. The claim is that proportional representation produces cabinets with a large number of parties, and that a large number of parties brings about higher public spending (measured by budget deficit and public debt). The author constructs and deploys the concept of budgetary dilemma to the effect that, absent institutional constraints, public spending results in expansionary fiscal policy. In the second part, the author empirically tests the budgetary dilemma in two postcommunist democracies - Serbia and Croatia, which in 2000-2013 had cabinets with a large number of actors and increasing public spending. The analysis shows a statistically unreliable predictive capacity of the main independent variable - the number of parties in the cabinet. Statistical analysis is followed by several illustrations of the budgetary dilemma. Adapted from the source document.

Svjetska ekonomska kriza zahvatila je zemlje Zapadnog Balkana. Recesija koju je karakteriziralo smanjenje privredne aktivnosti, pad potrošnje i povećanje zaposlenosti bila je praćena smanjenjem javnih prihoda. Posljedica takvog stanja je budžetska neravnoteža koja se manifestirala u vidu strukturnog budžetskog deficita i rasta javnog duga. Fiskalna konsolidacija u svim zemljama bila je neophodna. U procesu fiskalne konsolidacije dolazi do promjene pojedinih elemenata fiskalne politike koji se razlikuju od zemlje do zemlje. U tom procesu , struktura javnih prihoda i javnih rashoda se mijenja. Postavlja se pitanje koliko je fiskalna konsolidacija bila uspješna i u kojoj mjeri. Dinamička panel analiza pomoću PMG procjenitelja u šest zemalja Zapadnog Balkana, za period od 2004-2016. godine pokazala je da fiskalna konsolidacija ima pozitivan utjecaj na ekonomski rast. Dakle, zemlje Zapadnog Balkana moraju voditi odgovorne financije kako bi potakle ekonomski rast. ; The global economic crisis has not spared the countries of the Western Balkans. The ensuing recession, characterized by a decline in economic activity, a decline in consumption and an increase in unemployment, went hand in hand with drops in public revenues. This in turn resulted in budget imbalances that manifested in structural budget deficits and higher public debt. Fiscal consolidation was deemed necessary across the board. In this process, certain fiscal policy elements varied among countries. The structure of public revenues and public expenditures changed. The question is whether the fiscal consolidation was successful and to what extent. Dynamic panel analysis using PMG estimator in six Western Balkan Countries for the period 2004-2016 has shown that fiscal consolidation has positive impact on economic growth in this region. So, Western Balkan Countries have to conduct responsible public finances in order to encourage economic growth.

Iraq's overall security situation has notably improved after the defeat of ISIS, but significant challenges lie ahead. Iraq has witnessed major political and security transitions in 2017 when Prime Minister Al-Abadi announced in December the victory over ISIS after a war that lasted three years. The defeat of ISIS in Iraq left the government with the daunting tasks of rebuilding the country's infrastructure, reconstruction of liberated areas, establishing security and stability,and providing services for the return of the displaced persons. On May 12, 2018 Iraq voted in parliamentary elections that delivered a win for a political bloc led by Moqtada al-Sadr, while PM Al-Abadi's bloc, once seen as front runner, came in third. The ballots have been recounted after allegations of fraud and completed on August 8th without major change. On September 15th, Iraq's parliament elected lawmaker Mohammed al-Halbousi as speaker, marking a major step towards establishing a new government. On October 2nd, Iraq's parliament elected as president Barham Salih,who immediately named Adel Abdul Mahdi Prime Minister-designate, ending months of deadlock afterthe national election in May.

The Lebanon Economic Monitor provides an update on key economic developments and policies over the past six months. It also presents findings from recent World Bank work on Lebanon. It places them in a longer-term and global context, and assesses the implications of these developments and other changes in policy on the outlook for Lebanon. Its coverage ranges from the macro-economy to financial markets to indicators of human welfare and development. It is intended for a wide audience, including policy makers, business leaders, financial market participants, and the community of analysts and professionals engaged in Lebanon.

Hrvatska je 2002. godine provela radikalnu reformu mirovinskog sustava privatizacijom dijela javnog sustava, takozvani II. stup definiranih doprinosa, te uvođenjem i III. dobrovoljnog stupa. Reforma je provedena po modelu Svjetske banke slično kao i u drugim tranzicijskim zemljama. Za razliku od drugih tranzicijskih zemalja, hrvatski je sustav preživio krizu i u njemu nisu poduzimane značajnije dodatne reforme. U tekstu se tematizira korist i potreba provođenja evaluacija ovako opsežnih reformi kao razvoj politike utemeljene na dokazima. U tom kontekstu, analiziraju se mirovinske reforme u zemljama višegradske skupine (Poljska, Slovačka i Mađarska) gdje je pod utjecajem krize ukinuto obvezno članstvo u II. stupu. Glede politike mirovinskih reformi, u ovim zemljama na djelu je proces konvergencije. Rasprave o privatizaciji mirovinskog sustava sežu u prvu polovicu 1990-ih, a uvođenjem II. stupa govorilo se o razvoju tržišta kapitala, poticanju gospodarskog razvoja, novog zapošljavanja te većih mirovina. Premda je bilo političkih planova o privremenom zaustavljanju uplata u II. stup, on je preživio krizu. Suočena s manjim mirovinama iz I. i II. stupa za dobrovoljne drugostupaše od mirovina iz I. stupa vlada je dala dodatak dragovoljnim drugostupašima koji se vraćaju u I. stup. Reformom 2018. znatan dio dodatka imaju i obvezni drugostupaši. Analiza javnog diskursa govori da su glavne dnevne novine dio medijske kampanje obveznih mirovinskih fondova (OMF), zapravo društava za upravljanje mirovinskim fondovima, i u njima nema mjesta za drugačije mišljenje o II. stupu. U tekstu se analiziraju operativni troškovi društava za upravljanje OMF-ima, dominanta ulaganja u države obveznice čime se povećava javni dug te, imajući u vidu javne podatke, tranzicijski trošak. Zaključno se vrednuju dometi mirovinske reforme s nalazima evaluacije koji ukazuju na neodrživost II. stupa te njegovu reformu kao u spomenutim tranzicijskim zemljama. ; In 2002 Croatia implemented a radical pension system reform through privatization of a part of the public system, the so-called second pillar of defined contributions and the introduction of the third voluntary pillar. The reform was implemented according to the World Bank model, similarly as in other countries in transition. Unlike other countries in transition, the Croatian system survived the crisis and no other significant additional reform was undertaken in it. The text analyses the use and need of conducting an evaluation of such comprehensive reforms as a policy development based on evidence. In that context, the paper examines pension reforms in the Visegrád Group countries (Poland, Slovakia and Hungary) where the mandatory participation in the second pillar was cancelled due to the crisis. With regard to pension reform policies, these countries are undergoing a convergence process. Discussions about the pension system privatization date back to the first part of the 1990s, and the introduction of the mandatory second pillar opened debates about the capital market development, stimulation of economic growth, new employment and larger pensions. Although there were some political plans to temporarily halt payments to the second pillar, it survived the crisis. Faced with the pensions from the first and second pillars for voluntary second tier participants that were smaller than the pensions from the first pillar only, the government gave an increase to the second tier participants returning to the first pillar. The 2018 reform provided a considerable part of the increase for the mandatory second tier participants. The public discourse analysis shows that main daily newspapers serve as a part of the media campaign of the mandatory pension funds, actually pension fund management companies, and there is no place for different opinions about the second pillar in them. The paper analyses the operative costs of pension fund management companies, dominant investments in government bonds which increases public debt and, bearing in mind publicly available data, the costs of transition. Finally, pension reform aims are assessed against evaluation findings that point to the unsustainable second pillar and its reform similar to the reforms in aforementioned countries.

The Lebanon Economic Monitor provides an update on key economic developments and policies over the past six months. It also presents findings from recent World Bank work on Lebanon. It places them in a longer-term and global context, and assesses the implications of these developments and other changes in policy on the outlook for Lebanon. Lebanon continues to be impacted by the domestic political stalemate and regional turmoil, particularly along its border with Syria. Economic activity picked up in the second half of 2014. Stronger economic performance and lower oil prices pushed real GDP growth to an estimated 2.0 percent in 2014, compared to 0.9 percent in 2013. One-off cosmetic and unsustainable measures rather than policy actions helped improve the fiscal balance in 2014. We estimate the overall fiscal deficit to have declined by 2.3 percentage points. Declining imports lead an improvement in the current account balance. In 2014, a fall in merchandize imports induced a 4.4 pp reduction in the current account deficit to a still-elevated 22.2 percent of GDP. This trend is projected to continue in 2015 helped by falling oil prices and a depreciating euro, Headline inflation plummeted from 2.7 percent in 2013 to 1.9 percent in 2014 and is expected to remain tempered over the medium term. Lebanon s economy continues to be exposed to external shocks. The border with Syria is increasingly menacing as coordinated attacks by ISIS and Al Nusra are being launched more frequently from their bases in Syria. Inefficiencies in power generation impose sizable macroeconomic costs on Lebanon. The Lebanese electricity sector has been underperforming for decades with considerable socio-economic costs. The macroeconomic impact has been massive.

Preliminary Material /A. Layish -- Introduction One Tribal Arbitrators' Documents As A Source Of Legal History /A. Layish -- Introduction Two The Sedentary Bedouin Of The Judean Desert /A. Layish -- Introduction Three Tribal Judiciary And Customary Law /A. Layish -- Document One Submission, Tribal Award And Registration With Notary Public (1978) /A. Layish -- Document Two Murder with No Witnesses and Exculpatory Oath at al-Aqṣā Mosque (1954) /A. Layish -- Document Three Blood-Money Pact Reducing Tribal Liability (1966) /A. Layish -- Document Four Dissociation From Blood Group's Liability On Individual's Initiative (1963) /A. Layish -- Document Five Unintentional Vehicular Homicide And Reconciliation In The Presence Of A Qāḍī And A Muftī (1955) /A. Layish -- Document Six Unintentional Homicide Entailing Diya Muḥammadiyya (1975) /A. Layish -- Document Seven Diya Muḥammadiyya In The Presence Of A Sharʿī Qāḍī (1957) /A. Layish -- Document Eight An Eye For An Eye Or Monetary Compensation (1956) /A. Layish -- Document Nine Amputation Of The Hand Or Compensation Of One-Third Of A Diya Of A Person (1973) /A. Layish -- Document Ten Abduction, Marriage And Closure Of Criminal File (N.D.) /A. Layish -- Document Eleven Offense Against A Woman's Chastity Ṣā'iḥat Al-Ḍuḥā (1956) /A. Layish -- Document Twelve Cutting Down Trees, Damage To A Well, Etc. (1976) /A. Layish -- Document Thirteen Tribal Agreement On Regulations Relating To Corn Theft (1949) /A. Layish -- Document Fourteen Mukhtārs' Petition Concerning Shar'ī Marriage (N.D.) /A. Layish -- Document Fifteen Shar'ī Confirmation Of A Customary Marriage (1956) /A. Layish -- Document Sixteen Shar'ī Marriage Contract (1958) /A. Layish -- Document Seventeen Resort To Tribal Qāḍī Following The Harī'a Court's Failure To Solve A Dispute (1963) /A. Layish -- Document Eighteen Prompt Mahr Given To A Bride's Mother In Trust (1934) /A. Layish -- Document Nineteen Acknowledgment Of Mahr As Debt (1934) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty Agreement Between Brothers On Mobilizing Mahr Out Of The Estate (1957) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-One Tribal Agreement On Mahr (1940) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Two Shar'ī Judgment Granting Maintenance (1964) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Three Bayt Shar'ī, Obedience And Divorce In The Sharī'a Court (1970) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Four Customary Khul': Compensation To Divorcing Husband On His Wife's Remarriage (1959) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Five Khul' Prior To Consummation To Be Effected In The Sharī'a Court (1966) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Six Consensual Divorce With Sureties To Be Effected In The Sharī'a Court (1974) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Seven Tribal Award Of Separation To Be Accomplished By Shar'ī Ṭalāq (1972) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Eight "Renunciation Divorce" On The Wife's Initiative In The Sharī'a Court (1962) /A. Layish -- Document Twenty-Nine Shar'ī Legal Opinion On Oath Of Suspended Divorce (N.D.) /A. Layish -- Document Thirty Agreement On Child's Custody And Maintenance (1979) /A. Layish -- Document Thirty-One Replacement Of Guardian Of Minors' Property By A Shar'ī Qāḍī (1904) /A. Layish.

The geo-economy presents Lebanon with challenges associated with being a nexus for regional fault lines and risks from its dependence on capital inflows. Despite markedly improved security conditions since the start of 2015, anxiety over regional turmoil and potential spillover effectspersist. All the while, Lebanon continues to be, by far, the largest host of Syrian refugees (in proportion to the population). In addition, the economy's dependence on its diaspora to finance internal and external imbalances exposes Lebanon to economic and political conditions beyond its influence. Despite these challenges and risks, the political process remains impaired with the vacant presidency completing its second year with uncertain prospects of a near-term resolution. On the other hand, a short-term solution has been found to the garbage crisis that has left piles of trash uncollected on the streets across the country since summer 2015. The Lebanon Economic Monitor provides an update on key economic developments and policies over the past six months. It also presents findings from recent World Bank work on Lebanon. It places them in a longer-term and global context, and assesses the implications of these developments and other changes in policy on the outlook for Lebanon. Its coverage ranges from the macro-economy to financial markets to indicators of human welfare and development.