Finance & Economics

Latin America, Caribbean job market faces ‘scenario of uncertainty’ in 2015 – UN report

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Dock workers in Mexico.

Reforming Fiscal Equalization Transfers for Local Governments: Lessons for Poland

A well-designed system that shares revenue and responsibilities between different levels of government (fiscal equalization transfers) is key to ensure that all Polish citizens have access to good quality public services, regardless their geographical location. As Poland embarks upon reforming the current system, it is seeking to draw on the experiences of other countries in the area of sub-national government financing.

UK's new checks introduced to stop illegal migrants opening bank accounts

New powers to stop illegal migrants opening bank accounts were introduced on 12 December as part of the Immigration Act.

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UK's new generation of National Colleges will lead revolution in hi-tech skills

UK's Business Secretary announced employer-led National Colleges to develop advanced manufacturing, digital, wind energy and creative skills.

UK's Business Secretary Vince Cable announced a new wave of employer-led National Colleges to help the UK develop world-class skills in the advanced manufacturing, digital, wind energy and creative industries on 11 December 2014.

UK's accelerated Payment notices bring in millions from tax avoidance schemes

UK's HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has secured almost all of the disputed tax due from the first group of tax avoidance scheme users to receive Accelerated Payment notices.

About 30 scheme users were told in late August they had 90 days to pay a total of around £29 million of disputed tax upfront under UK's new Accelerated Payments regime.

US Congress Approves $585 Billion Defense Bill

The U.S. Congress has approved a gigantic defense policy bill.

G20 GDP growth picks up to 0.9% in the third quarter of 2014

Quarterly GDP in volume terms for the G20
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Percentage change on the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted data

Big cities fare better than rural areas, says first poverty analysis post-earthquake

A new report released Thursday by the National Observatory on Poverty and Social Exclusion (ONPES) and the World Bank suggests the need for more inclusive growth and policies to increase access to basic services, livelihood opportunities and social protection for the poor in Haiti as the best way forward for accelerating poverty reduction in the country.

Congress Averts Government Shutdown, Passes Short-Term Spending Bill

U.S. Congress has approved a last-minute, two-day extension of government funding, narrowly averting a partial federal government shutdown.

Government of India and World Bank Sign $1.1 Billion Agreement for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor Project

393 km Kanpur-Mughal Sarai section of the 1,839 km long Corridor will be built in this phase

The Government of India and the World Bank Thursday signed a $1.1 billion agreement towards the second loan for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (a freight-only rail line) that will help faster and more efficient movement of raw materials and finished goods between the north and eastern parts of India. The project was approved by the World Bank Board on April 22, 2014.