UK needs to tackle high cost of mental-ill health, says OECD
Mental health issues cost the UK around GBP 70 billion every year, or roughly 4.5% of GDP, in lost productivity at work, benefit payments and health care expenditure. Better policies and practices by employers and the health system are needed to help...
An IMF Mission to Mauritania
“The mission made progress in the discussions with the Mauritanian authorities on the macroeconomic performance, economic policies and possible future financial support from the IMF.
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2013 Article IV Consultation with Bolivia
Good macroeconomic performance and active social policies since the mid-2000s have helped Bolivia to nearly triple income per capita and reduce poverty. In recent years, the economy benefitted from high international commodity prices and rising...
World Bank Supports Civil Service Reforms and Modernization in Liberia
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved US$2 million for the Public Sector Modernization Project (PSMP) to support the ongoing strengthening of the government’s institutional capacity for public sector management.
World Bank Supports Bangladesh in Strengthening Delivery of Urban Services and Quality of Higher Education
The government of Bangladesh signed two financing agreements totaling $535 million with the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s concessional arm: $410 million for the Municipal Governance and Services Project and $125...
Frontiers of the EU: the border that ceased to be
The Passerelle Mimram/Mimram-Brücke straddling the river Rhine at Strasbourg is one of the bridges joining two border regions that were once bitterly divided. Before the Alsace region was the stage for a series of bloody battles between France and...
Things we learnt in plenary: insider trading, LGBTI rights, Italian president
MEPs voted to make the recognition of official documents easier in another EU member state during the 3-6 February plenary session, backed rules to punish manipulators of financial markets and urged an EU-wide strategy to combat homophobia and protect...
Congress Faces Scramble to Raise Debt Ceiling
The coming week will see a return to fiscal drama in the U.S. Capitol with lawmakers scrambling to raise the federal borrowing limit before they adjourn for a week-long recess.
The Conclusion of an IMF Staff Mission on Pakistan
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission, led by Mr. Jeffrey Franks, met with the Pakistan authorities in Dubai from February 1-9, 2014 for discussions on the second review of Pakistan’s IMF-supported program under the Extended Fund Facility...
Tackling tax fraud: European Commission proposes stronger cooperation with non-EU countries on VAT
As part of the intensified battle against tax fraud, the Commission launched the process to start negotiations with Russia and Norway on administrative cooperation agreements in the area of Value Added Tax (VAT). The broad goal of these agreements...
