Russia
This paper is one of the background papers prepared as an input to the Russia Country Assistance Evaluation (CAE) by the Operations Evaluation Department (OED) of the World Bank. In 1992, the Russian Federation commenced reforms to transition to a market economy. This report focuses on the following projects: the Employment Services and Social Protection Loan (ESSP), the Social Protection Adjustment Loan (SPAL), and the Social Protection Implementation Loan (SPIL). From the beginning of its relationship with Russia, the Bank viewed social protection reform as one of the most important elements of its country assistance strategy, largely out of concern that a breakdown in the social safety net would undermine political support for economic reform. In general, the outcome of social protection efforts during the first part of the 1990s was moderately satisfactory and the outcome in the second half of the decade was moderately unsatisfactory. The ESSP was created to ensure a proper response to an anticipated rise in unemployment claims as a result of industrial restructuring and later changed to focus mostly on computerisation and upgrading the data processing capacity of local social protection offices dealing with pension payments. The SPAL-SPIL package addressed most of the important remaining social protection reforms, but with mixed success. Major barriers to success were the poor fiscal conditions prevailing through most of the 1990s, and the unsatisfactory performance of both the Bank and the borrower during the latter half of the 1990s. Lessons to be learned from the Bank’s experience in Russia in the 1990s include the need to: (a) pay more attention to the political and institutional aspects of the reform process; (b) have reasonable expectations about the pace at which reforms can be developed, adopted, and implemented (c) deal with all of the relevant units of government, and not just the federal executive; and (d) employ lending vehicles with more flexibility to adjust lending activities as the policy development and implementation process passes through its various phases. Overall, the author has presented a thorough, professional analysis covering all major aspects of co-operation between the Russian Federation and the Bank in the social protection area in the 1990s.
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LIVING STANDARDS RISKS BORROWER PROTECTION SYSTEM STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SOCIAL FUNDS ECONOMIC GROWTH ACCOUNTING SEVERANCE PAYMENTS REFORM LEGISLATION OLD AGE POLITICS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LOANS DISABILITY PENSIONS INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS EXCHANGE BANKING SYSTEM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSUMER GOODS COUNTERFACTUAL TRADE UNION WATER SUPPLY SOCIAL SAFETY NET POLITICAL ECONOMY REVENUES HOUSEHOLD POVERTY WELFARE CAPACITY BUILDING LOAN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY TAX INCOME SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SOCIAL BENEFITS PENSION SYSTEM SOCIAL ASSISTANCE LABOR MARKET POLICIES BENEFICIARIES INFLATION MEASURES HEALTH FACILITIES PENSION BENEFIT AMOUNT SOCIAL [REHABILITATION BUDGET POVERTY REDUCTION TRANSFER RESOURCES FISCAL CRISIS MACROECONOMIC STABILITY LABOR MARKET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRICE STRUCTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIAL RISKS ASSISTANCE STRATEGY MATERNITY BENEFITS RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS SOCIAL INSURANCE MONETARY FUND TRANSFERS HOUSEHOLD INCOME PENSION REFORM PUBLIC FINANCE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL PROTECTION FAMILY ALLOWANCES JOB TRAINING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOANS CASH BENEFITS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT DONOR FUNDS SUBSIDIES FINANCE POLITICAL SUPPORT MARKET ECONOMY UNEMPLOYMENT CHILD ALLOWANCES BENEFIT LEVELS LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS SOCIAL SERVICES INVESTMENT LOAN FINANCIAL CRISIS FUTURE PENSIONS SOCIAL POLICY INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS SAFETY NET RETIREMENT BENEFITS PRODUCER SUBSIDIES INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY REFORM PLAN MARKET CASH ASSISTANCE TRADE UNIONS SOCIAL WELFARE CASH BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIAL CAPITAL CASH SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TAXATION TARGETING POVERTY RELIEF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT SEVERANCE PAY FIRST LOAN GOODS SECURITY WAR INVESTMENT HUMAN RESOURCES DISABILITY BENEFITS ECONOMIC CRISIS POVERTY REFORM PROCESS DECENTRALIZATION REVENUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT LENDING POOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REFORM PROGRAM SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH SERVICES PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE WELFARE PROGRAMS COMPENSATORY MECHANISM GUARANTEE POVERTY ALLEVIATION HUMAN DEVELOPMENT LIVING STANDARDS RISKS BORROWER PROTECTION SYSTEM STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SOCIAL FUNDS ECONOMIC GROWTH ACCOUNTING SEVERANCE PAYMENTS REFORM LEGISLATION OLD AGE POLITICS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LOANS DISABILITY PENSIONS INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS EXCHANGE BANKING SYSTEM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSUMER GOODS COUNTERFACTUAL TRADE UNION WATER SUPPLY SOCIAL SAFETY NET POLITICAL ECONOMY REVENUES HOUSEHOLD POVERTY WELFARE CAPACITY BUILDING LOAN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY TAX INCOME SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SOCIAL BENEFITS PENSION SYSTEM SOCIAL ASSISTANCE LABOR MARKET POLICIES BENEFICIARIES INFLATION MEASURES HEALTH FACILITIES PENSION BENEFIT AMOUNT SOCIAL [REHABILITATION BUDGET POVERTY REDUCTION TRANSFER RESOURCES FISCAL CRISIS MACROECONOMIC STABILITY LABOR MARKET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRICE STRUCTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIAL RISKS ASSISTANCE STRATEGY MATERNITY BENEFITS RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS SOCIAL INSURANCE MONETARY FUND TRANSFERS HOUSEHOLD INCOME PENSION REFORM PUBLIC FINANCE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL PROTECTION FAMILY ALLOWANCES JOB TRAINING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOANS CASH BENEFITS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT DONOR FUNDS SUBSIDIES FINANCE POLITICAL SUPPORT MARKET ECONOMY UNEMPLOYMENT CHILD ALLOWANCES BENEFIT LEVELS LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS SOCIAL SERVICES INVESTMENT LOAN FINANCIAL CRISIS FUTURE PENSIONS SOCIAL POLICY INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS SAFETY NET RETIREMENT BENEFITS PRODUCER SUBSIDIES INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY REFORM PLAN MARKET CASH ASSISTANCE TRADE UNIONS SOCIAL WELFARE CASH BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIAL CAPITAL CASH SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TAXATION TARGETING POVERTY RELIEF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT SEVERANCE PAY FIRST LOAN GOODS SECURITY WAR INVESTMENT HUMAN RESOURCES DISABILITY BENEFITS ECONOMIC CRISIS POVERTY REFORM PROCESS DECENTRALIZATION REVENUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT LENDING POOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REFORM PROGRAM SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH SERVICES PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE WELFARE PROGRAMS COMPENSATORY MECHANISM GUARANTEE POVERTY ALLEVIATION HUMAN DEVELOPMENT |
spellingShingle |
LIVING STANDARDS RISKS BORROWER PROTECTION SYSTEM STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SOCIAL FUNDS ECONOMIC GROWTH ACCOUNTING SEVERANCE PAYMENTS REFORM LEGISLATION OLD AGE POLITICS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LOANS DISABILITY PENSIONS INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS EXCHANGE BANKING SYSTEM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSUMER GOODS COUNTERFACTUAL TRADE UNION WATER SUPPLY SOCIAL SAFETY NET POLITICAL ECONOMY REVENUES HOUSEHOLD POVERTY WELFARE CAPACITY BUILDING LOAN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY TAX INCOME SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SOCIAL BENEFITS PENSION SYSTEM SOCIAL ASSISTANCE LABOR MARKET POLICIES BENEFICIARIES INFLATION MEASURES HEALTH FACILITIES PENSION BENEFIT AMOUNT SOCIAL [REHABILITATION BUDGET POVERTY REDUCTION TRANSFER RESOURCES FISCAL CRISIS MACROECONOMIC STABILITY LABOR MARKET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRICE STRUCTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIAL RISKS ASSISTANCE STRATEGY MATERNITY BENEFITS RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS SOCIAL INSURANCE MONETARY FUND TRANSFERS HOUSEHOLD INCOME PENSION REFORM PUBLIC FINANCE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL PROTECTION FAMILY ALLOWANCES JOB TRAINING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOANS CASH BENEFITS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT DONOR FUNDS SUBSIDIES FINANCE POLITICAL SUPPORT MARKET ECONOMY UNEMPLOYMENT CHILD ALLOWANCES BENEFIT LEVELS LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS SOCIAL SERVICES INVESTMENT LOAN FINANCIAL CRISIS FUTURE PENSIONS SOCIAL POLICY INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS SAFETY NET RETIREMENT BENEFITS PRODUCER SUBSIDIES INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY REFORM PLAN MARKET CASH ASSISTANCE TRADE UNIONS SOCIAL WELFARE CASH BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIAL CAPITAL CASH SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TAXATION TARGETING POVERTY RELIEF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT SEVERANCE PAY FIRST LOAN GOODS SECURITY WAR INVESTMENT HUMAN RESOURCES DISABILITY BENEFITS ECONOMIC CRISIS POVERTY REFORM PROCESS DECENTRALIZATION REVENUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT LENDING POOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REFORM PROGRAM SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH SERVICES PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE WELFARE PROGRAMS COMPENSATORY MECHANISM GUARANTEE POVERTY ALLEVIATION HUMAN DEVELOPMENT LIVING STANDARDS RISKS BORROWER PROTECTION SYSTEM STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SOCIAL FUNDS ECONOMIC GROWTH ACCOUNTING SEVERANCE PAYMENTS REFORM LEGISLATION OLD AGE POLITICS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LOANS DISABILITY PENSIONS INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS EXCHANGE BANKING SYSTEM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSUMER GOODS COUNTERFACTUAL TRADE UNION WATER SUPPLY SOCIAL SAFETY NET POLITICAL ECONOMY REVENUES HOUSEHOLD POVERTY WELFARE CAPACITY BUILDING LOAN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY TAX INCOME SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SOCIAL BENEFITS PENSION SYSTEM SOCIAL ASSISTANCE LABOR MARKET POLICIES BENEFICIARIES INFLATION MEASURES HEALTH FACILITIES PENSION BENEFIT AMOUNT SOCIAL [REHABILITATION BUDGET POVERTY REDUCTION TRANSFER RESOURCES FISCAL CRISIS MACROECONOMIC STABILITY LABOR MARKET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRICE STRUCTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIAL RISKS ASSISTANCE STRATEGY MATERNITY BENEFITS RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS SOCIAL INSURANCE MONETARY FUND TRANSFERS HOUSEHOLD INCOME PENSION REFORM PUBLIC FINANCE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL PROTECTION FAMILY ALLOWANCES JOB TRAINING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOANS CASH BENEFITS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT DONOR FUNDS SUBSIDIES FINANCE POLITICAL SUPPORT MARKET ECONOMY UNEMPLOYMENT CHILD ALLOWANCES BENEFIT LEVELS LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS SOCIAL SERVICES INVESTMENT LOAN FINANCIAL CRISIS FUTURE PENSIONS SOCIAL POLICY INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS SAFETY NET RETIREMENT BENEFITS PRODUCER SUBSIDIES INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY REFORM PLAN MARKET CASH ASSISTANCE TRADE UNIONS SOCIAL WELFARE CASH BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIAL CAPITAL CASH SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TAXATION TARGETING POVERTY RELIEF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT SEVERANCE PAY FIRST LOAN GOODS SECURITY WAR INVESTMENT HUMAN RESOURCES DISABILITY BENEFITS ECONOMIC CRISIS POVERTY REFORM PROCESS DECENTRALIZATION REVENUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT LENDING POOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REFORM PROGRAM SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH SERVICES PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE WELFARE PROGRAMS COMPENSATORY MECHANISM GUARANTEE POVERTY ALLEVIATION HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Thompson, Lawrence H. Russia |
description |
This paper is one of the background
papers prepared as an input to the Russia Country Assistance
Evaluation (CAE) by the Operations Evaluation Department
(OED) of the World Bank. In 1992, the Russian Federation
commenced reforms to transition to a market economy. This
report focuses on the following projects: the Employment
Services and Social Protection Loan (ESSP), the Social
Protection Adjustment Loan (SPAL), and the Social Protection
Implementation Loan (SPIL). From the beginning of its
relationship with Russia, the Bank viewed social protection
reform as one of the most important elements of its country
assistance strategy, largely out of concern that a breakdown
in the social safety net would undermine political support
for economic reform. In general, the outcome of social
protection efforts during the first part of the 1990s was
moderately satisfactory and the outcome in the second half
of the decade was moderately unsatisfactory. The ESSP was
created to ensure a proper response to an anticipated rise
in unemployment claims as a result of industrial
restructuring and later changed to focus mostly on
computerisation and upgrading the data processing capacity
of local social protection offices dealing with pension
payments. The SPAL-SPIL package addressed most of the
important remaining social protection reforms, but with
mixed success. Major barriers to success were the poor
fiscal conditions prevailing through most of the 1990s, and
the unsatisfactory performance of both the Bank and the
borrower during the latter half of the 1990s. Lessons to be
learned from the Bank’s experience in Russia in the 1990s
include the need to: (a) pay more attention to the political
and institutional aspects of the reform process; (b) have
reasonable expectations about the pace at which reforms can
be developed, adopted, and implemented (c) deal with all of
the relevant units of government, and not just the federal
executive; and (d) employ lending vehicles with more
flexibility to adjust lending activities as the policy
development and implementation process passes through its
various phases. Overall, the author has presented a
thorough, professional analysis covering all major aspects
of co-operation between the Russian Federation and the Bank
in the social protection area in the 1990s. |
format |
Evaluation |
topic_facet |
LIVING STANDARDS RISKS BORROWER PROTECTION SYSTEM STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SOCIAL FUNDS ECONOMIC GROWTH ACCOUNTING SEVERANCE PAYMENTS REFORM LEGISLATION OLD AGE POLITICS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LOANS DISABILITY PENSIONS INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS EXCHANGE BANKING SYSTEM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSUMER GOODS COUNTERFACTUAL TRADE UNION WATER SUPPLY SOCIAL SAFETY NET POLITICAL ECONOMY REVENUES HOUSEHOLD POVERTY WELFARE CAPACITY BUILDING LOAN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY TAX INCOME SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SOCIAL BENEFITS PENSION SYSTEM SOCIAL ASSISTANCE LABOR MARKET POLICIES BENEFICIARIES INFLATION MEASURES HEALTH FACILITIES PENSION BENEFIT AMOUNT SOCIAL [REHABILITATION BUDGET POVERTY REDUCTION TRANSFER RESOURCES FISCAL CRISIS MACROECONOMIC STABILITY LABOR MARKET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRICE STRUCTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIAL RISKS ASSISTANCE STRATEGY MATERNITY BENEFITS RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS SOCIAL INSURANCE MONETARY FUND TRANSFERS HOUSEHOLD INCOME PENSION REFORM PUBLIC FINANCE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL PROTECTION FAMILY ALLOWANCES JOB TRAINING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOANS CASH BENEFITS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT DONOR FUNDS SUBSIDIES FINANCE POLITICAL SUPPORT MARKET ECONOMY UNEMPLOYMENT CHILD ALLOWANCES BENEFIT LEVELS LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS SOCIAL SERVICES INVESTMENT LOAN FINANCIAL CRISIS FUTURE PENSIONS SOCIAL POLICY INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS SAFETY NET RETIREMENT BENEFITS PRODUCER SUBSIDIES INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY REFORM PLAN MARKET CASH ASSISTANCE TRADE UNIONS SOCIAL WELFARE CASH BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIAL CAPITAL CASH SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TAXATION TARGETING POVERTY RELIEF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT SEVERANCE PAY FIRST LOAN GOODS SECURITY WAR INVESTMENT HUMAN RESOURCES DISABILITY BENEFITS ECONOMIC CRISIS POVERTY REFORM PROCESS DECENTRALIZATION REVENUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT LENDING POOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REFORM PROGRAM SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH SERVICES PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE WELFARE PROGRAMS COMPENSATORY MECHANISM GUARANTEE POVERTY ALLEVIATION HUMAN DEVELOPMENT |
author |
Thompson, Lawrence H. |
author_facet |
Thompson, Lawrence H. |
author_sort |
Thompson, Lawrence H. |
title |
Russia |
title_short |
Russia |
title_full |
Russia |
title_fullStr |
Russia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Russia |
title_sort |
russia |
publisher |
World Bank, Washington, DC |
publishDate |
2002-09-01 |
url |
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2016/03/26017776/russia-bank-assistance-social-protection https://hdl.handle.net/10986/24113 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT thompsonlawrenceh russia AT thompsonlawrenceh bankassistanceforsocialprotection |
_version_ |
1809106245733318656 |
spelling |
dig-okr-10986241132024-08-07T20:02:36Z Russia Bank Assistance for Social Protection Thompson, Lawrence H. LIVING STANDARDS RISKS BORROWER PROTECTION SYSTEM STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT SOCIAL FUNDS ECONOMIC GROWTH ACCOUNTING SEVERANCE PAYMENTS REFORM LEGISLATION OLD AGE POLITICS STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LOANS DISABILITY PENSIONS INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS EXCHANGE BANKING SYSTEM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSUMER GOODS COUNTERFACTUAL TRADE UNION WATER SUPPLY SOCIAL SAFETY NET POLITICAL ECONOMY REVENUES HOUSEHOLD POVERTY WELFARE CAPACITY BUILDING LOAN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDY TAX INCOME SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SOCIAL BENEFITS PENSION SYSTEM SOCIAL ASSISTANCE LABOR MARKET POLICIES BENEFICIARIES INFLATION MEASURES HEALTH FACILITIES PENSION BENEFIT AMOUNT SOCIAL [REHABILITATION BUDGET POVERTY REDUCTION TRANSFER RESOURCES FISCAL CRISIS MACROECONOMIC STABILITY LABOR MARKET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRICE STRUCTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIAL RISKS ASSISTANCE STRATEGY MATERNITY BENEFITS RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS SOCIAL INSURANCE MONETARY FUND TRANSFERS HOUSEHOLD INCOME PENSION REFORM PUBLIC FINANCE HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL PROTECTION FAMILY ALLOWANCES JOB TRAINING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOANS CASH BENEFITS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT DONOR FUNDS SUBSIDIES FINANCE POLITICAL SUPPORT MARKET ECONOMY UNEMPLOYMENT CHILD ALLOWANCES BENEFIT LEVELS LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS SOCIAL SERVICES INVESTMENT LOAN FINANCIAL CRISIS FUTURE PENSIONS SOCIAL POLICY INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS SAFETY NET RETIREMENT BENEFITS PRODUCER SUBSIDIES INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY REFORM PLAN MARKET CASH ASSISTANCE TRADE UNIONS SOCIAL WELFARE CASH BENEFIT INSURANCE SOCIAL CAPITAL CASH SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TAXATION TARGETING POVERTY RELIEF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT SEVERANCE PAY FIRST LOAN GOODS SECURITY WAR INVESTMENT HUMAN RESOURCES DISABILITY BENEFITS ECONOMIC CRISIS POVERTY REFORM PROCESS DECENTRALIZATION REVENUE FINANCIAL SUPPORT LENDING POOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REFORM PROGRAM SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH SERVICES PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE WELFARE PROGRAMS COMPENSATORY MECHANISM GUARANTEE POVERTY ALLEVIATION HUMAN DEVELOPMENT This paper is one of the background papers prepared as an input to the Russia Country Assistance Evaluation (CAE) by the Operations Evaluation Department (OED) of the World Bank. In 1992, the Russian Federation commenced reforms to transition to a market economy. This report focuses on the following projects: the Employment Services and Social Protection Loan (ESSP), the Social Protection Adjustment Loan (SPAL), and the Social Protection Implementation Loan (SPIL). From the beginning of its relationship with Russia, the Bank viewed social protection reform as one of the most important elements of its country assistance strategy, largely out of concern that a breakdown in the social safety net would undermine political support for economic reform. In general, the outcome of social protection efforts during the first part of the 1990s was moderately satisfactory and the outcome in the second half of the decade was moderately unsatisfactory. The ESSP was created to ensure a proper response to an anticipated rise in unemployment claims as a result of industrial restructuring and later changed to focus mostly on computerisation and upgrading the data processing capacity of local social protection offices dealing with pension payments. The SPAL-SPIL package addressed most of the important remaining social protection reforms, but with mixed success. Major barriers to success were the poor fiscal conditions prevailing through most of the 1990s, and the unsatisfactory performance of both the Bank and the borrower during the latter half of the 1990s. Lessons to be learned from the Bank’s experience in Russia in the 1990s include the need to: (a) pay more attention to the political and institutional aspects of the reform process; (b) have reasonable expectations about the pace at which reforms can be developed, adopted, and implemented (c) deal with all of the relevant units of government, and not just the federal executive; and (d) employ lending vehicles with more flexibility to adjust lending activities as the policy development and implementation process passes through its various phases. Overall, the author has presented a thorough, professional analysis covering all major aspects of co-operation between the Russian Federation and the Bank in the social protection area in the 1990s. 2016-04-21T16:38:50Z 2016-04-21T16:38:50Z 2002-09-01 Evaluation Évaluation Manual http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2016/03/26017776/russia-bank-assistance-social-protection https://hdl.handle.net/10986/24113 English en_US CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank application/pdf text/plain World Bank, Washington, DC |