Place Based Economic Development with Simon White

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Private Sector Development

Simon White | Specialist in private sector development. Supporting business growth for more and better jobs.

How market systems development projects connect with business environment reforms to improve the ways markets work for the po

Are market systems development projects too cool for rules?

This article looks at how market systems development projects can better connect with business environment reforms to improve the ways market work better for the poor. It has been written by Ines Bentchikou from the International Labour Organisation in Geneva and Simon White. Ines works with The Lab at the

Supporting city and local government innovation

Supporting city and local government innovation

City and local government authorities can be more innovative in the way they work, share data and stimulate local innovation. Characteristics of innovative local governments While there is no single pathway to success, there are characteristics that high-performing city and local governments share: First, innovative city and local government authorities

Supporting Public-Private Partnerships for Industry Development

Supporting Public-Private Partnerships for Industry Development

Dealing with the practical problems private firms face when nurturing innovative processes; lessons from Rwanda Industry development and commercial innovation are often presented in idealised terms, focusing on shiny new start-ups and ignoring the struggle of existing firms. It is challenging to understand the practical problems of private firms face

Agriculture markets

When market solutions are not enough

I recently spent a week in the northwest of Mozambique on an assignment for an international donor agency looking at how agriculture markets can drive economic development. Here are my reflections in Development Policy. There are many instances when market solutions are not enough to achieve private sector development. While

Decentralised cooperation

The Local Business Environment and Decentralised Cooperation

Simon White | This article summarises the research results on local business environment reform.

Better business regulations create jobs

Better business regulations create jobs

Business environment reform for job creation I this post, I explore how business environment reform nurtures job creation. The World Bank’s annual Doing Business assessment was released today with some important claims regarding the impact of regulatory reform on job creation. There has been much debate over the years

Small Business Development

SME Development Agencies

Over the last few months, I’ve provided advice to a number of government funded national SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) development agencies. Such agencies are very popular among governments, but less so among enterprise development specialist. While they can focus government efforts on supporting the small business sector, they