This is a collaborative project between The African Development Bank, Tunisia and The Brookings Institution, Washington DC. Industrial development contributes strongly to job creation, poverty reduction and economic growth. This research project explores why there is so little industry in Africa, yet, given similar starting circumstances, industry has grown rapidly in Asia.
With an emphasis on the role of income equality since the early 1990s, this study demonstrates that income growth has been a driving force behind both the reduction and the increase in poverty. However, the researchers identify substantial regional and national differences in this effect, which policy makers should take into account.
This research report claims that Thailand's incidence of poverty has dramatically declined since the late 1950s, while its economic inequality has increased. Economic progress is seen in areas such as life expectancy, literacy and infant mortality. However, Thailand's educational system is poor and it has environmental problems and failures in resource management.
The aim of this project is to better understand how the receipt of aid influences the democratic processes in a developing country. The researchers will conduct research in eight multi-party democracies in Africa, focusing on the 2000 to 2010 time period. The results of this research will show policy makers which features of aid and which characteristics of the receiving country determine their effectiveness on democratic transitions.
The impact of climate change on water resources and agriculture is one of the major issues in developing countries in Africa, resulting in competition over scarce resources. This research project measures the impact of climate change directly on agriculture in Morocco and Tunisia, as well as indirectly through linkages to other sectors. The aim is to produce a set of analytical tools that can be applied to other regions and countries.