Economic Growth with Equity: Ukrainian Perspectives

Traditionally the World Bank's periodic economic studies on borrowing member countries, studies known as "Country Economic Memorandums", are written almost entirely by staff and consultants from the Bank's main office based on a 2-3 week visit to the country. The report is written in Washington, formally reviewed inside the Bank, further revised, and then, as much as 6-9 months later, it is sent to the Government for review and clearance. Last year the Bank decided to try a distinctly different approach to preparing a CEM for Ukraine. Instead of having outside experts do most of the research and writing, they instead were used primary to support the work of local experts in a highly participatory process designed to maximize the involvement of the Ukrainians themselves in the analysis, discussion, and writing about the problems of their own country, thereby helping to build local capacity for analysis and consensus for reform. The participatory process during the past year centered on eight Ukrainian research teams that were established to analyze the most difficult and important areas of the Ukrainian economy - agriculture, education, energy, fiscal management, health, industry, shadow economy, and social protection. Specialists from the World Bank and other bilateral and international organizations participated in the work of each group. Each research team went through a demanding process of issues papers, seminars, and final reviews. The paper titled "Agrarian Policy" analyzes and assesses Ukraine's agrarian policy. It is very important to...