Lao PDR Economic Monitor Reports

Cover of World Bank Lao Economic Monitor Oct 2024

Oct 2024: Reforms for Stability and Growth

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Recent economic developments (p.3)

Outlook and risks (p.12)

- More Revenues, Better Health – Implementing Health Tax Reforms in Laos (p. 16)

Cover of World Bank Lao Economic Monitor April 2024

Apr 2024: Accelerating Reforms for Growth

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments (p.1)
Outlook and risks (p.19)
- Education for Growth and Development (p. 26)

Lao Economic Monitor November 2023 Cover

Nov 2023: Fiscal Policy for Stability

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments (p.1)
Outlook and risks (p.33)
- Improving Revenue Mobilization (p.42)

Cover of Lao Economic Monitor Report, May 2023. Shows typical Lao small fresh market in a Luang Prabang alley

May 2023: Addressing Economic Uncertainty

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development (p.1)
Outlook and risks (p.17)
- Impacts of Macroeconomic Instability on Lao Households (p.22)

Cover of Lao Economic Monitor Report, October 2022. Shows the Thanaleng dry port in .Vientiane

October 2022: Tackling Macroeconomic Vulnerabilities

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development (p.1)
Outlook and risks (p.25)
- Exports for Jobs (p.31)

Cover of Lao Economic Monitor Report, April 2022. Shows the new Laos-China railway.

April 2022: Restoring Macroeconomic Stability to Support Recovery

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development (p.9)
Outlook and risks (p.29)
- Unlocking the Potential of Regional Connectivity (p.35)

August 2021: A Path to Recovery

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development (p.9)
Outlook and risks (p.33)
- Impacts of COVID-19 on Businesses and Households (p.39)

January 2021: Supporting Economic Recovery

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development (p.17)
Outlook and risks (p.41)
- Livelihoods in the Time of COVID-19 (p.45)

June 2020: Lao PDR in the time of COVID-19

Highlights | Download report (ENG) | Summary (ENG) | Summary (LAO) | Video

Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments (p.9)
Outlook and risks (p.36)
- Building a resilient health system for health emergencies (p.40)

August 2019: Maintaining Economic Stability

Highlights | Download report (ENG) | Summary (ENG) | Summary (LAO) | Video

Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments (p.15)
Outlook and challenges (p.27)
- Constraints to doing business for SMEs (p.32)

January 2019: Macroeconomic Stability Amidst Uncertainty

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments (p.8)
Outlook and challenges (p.27)
- Building human capital for poverty reduction (p.33)

June 2018: Safeguarding Stability

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments (p.8)
Outlook and risks (p.30)
- How can farmers get more for their rice and consumers pay less (p.39)

December 2017: Lowering Risks and Reviving Growth

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.13)
- Lao PDR power sector: grow without sorrow (p.37)

April 2017: Promoting More Inclusive Growth and Financing the Health Sector

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.14)
- Health Sector Financing in Lao PDR (p.45)

May 2016: Challenges in Promoting More Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.11)
Selected issue notes (p.32)
- Drivers of poverty reduction in Lao PDR (p.34)

April 2015: Towards Restoring Macroeconomic Stability and Building Inclusive Growth

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.16)
Selected issue notes (p.31)
- Asean Economic Community 2015 – Implications For Lao PDR (p.32)
- Trade in Goods (p.32)
- Trade in Services (p.33)
- Investment (p.34)
- Trade Facilitation (p.35)
- Creating Productive Jobs For Inclusive Growth (p.37)

January 2014: Managing Risks for Macroeconomic Stability

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.10)
Selected issue notes (p.21)
- School based management in Lao PDR: current conditions and recommendations for the future (p.22)

June 2013: Sustaining Growth - Maintaining Macroeconomic Stability

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.6)
Selected issue notes (p.16)
- Improving the effectiveness and transparency of mining revenues (p.16)
- Government budget at a glance (p.18)
- Government spending on health in Lao PDR (p.22)
- Net economic benefits of sanitation interventions in the Lao PDR (p.25)

November 2012: Tightening Demand to Maintain Macroeconomic Balances

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.4)
Selected issue notes (p.14)
- Improving the effectiveness and transparency of mining revenues (p.16)
- Rice sector in surplus: revising the policy mix (p.14)
- Maternal health: how free deliveries help (p.18)
- Gender: reducing vulnerability, increasing opportunity (p.21)

May 2012: Sustaining Robust Growth - Mitigating Risks and Deepening Reforms

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.4)
Selected issue notes (p.12)
- Structural and policy reforms (p.12)
- Public expenditure policy and management reforms (p.12)
- Financial sector development (p.15)
- Trade reform (p.16)
- Private Sector Development (p.18)

December 2011: Sustaining Growth Coping with Rising Uncertainty

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.4)
Selected issue notes (p.4)
- Growth and inflation (p.4)
- GOL's revenue and expenditure (p.6)
- External balance (p.8)
- Monetary sector (p.10)

May 2011: Robust Growth Amidst Inflationary Concerns

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.6)
Selected issue notes (p.14)
- Structural and policy reforms (p.14)
- Public expenditure policy and management reforms (p.14)
- Financial sector development (p.17)
- Trade reform (p.18)
- Private Sector Development (p.19)

September 2010: Managing Macroeconomic Balances to Sustain High Economic Growth

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.3)
- Rising food prices fueled inflation in recent months (p.3)
- GOL's revenue and expenditure implementation (p.5)

May 2010: Recent Economic
Developments

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.3)
Selected issue notes (p.3)
- Growth and inflation (p.3)
- GOL's revenue and expenditure (p.4)
- External balance (p.6)
- Monetary sector (p.8)

December 2009: Recent Economic
Developments

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.5)
Selected issue notes (p.12)
- Structural and policy reforms (p.12)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.12)
- Financial sector reform (p.15)
- Trade reform (p.16)
- Private sector development (p.17)

June 2009: Impact of the Global Financial Crisis and Recent Economic Developments

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.3)
Selected issue notes (p.3)
- Growth and inflation (p.3)
- GOL's revenue and expenditure (p.5)
- External balance (p.7)
- Monetary sector (p.9)
- The Lao government's response to the crisis (p.12)

November 2008: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.5)
Selected issue notes (p.13)
- Structural and policy reforms (p.13)
- Public expenditure policy and management reforms (p.13)
- Financial sector development (p.20)
- Trade reform (p.22)
- Private Sector Development (p.24)

April 2008: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.3)
Selected issue notes (p.11)
- Structural reforms (p.11)
- Public expenditure policy and management reforms (p.11)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.13)
- Financial sector development (p.16)
- Trade reform (p.18)
- Private Sector Development (p.20)

November 2007: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.7)
Selected issue notes (p.13)
- Structural reforms (p.13)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.13)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.15)
- Financial sector development (p.19)
- Trade reform (p.21)
- Private Sector Development (p.23)
- Donor assistance to the reform agenda (p.28)

May 2007: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.5)
- Structural reforms (p.5)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.5)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.7)
- Financial sector development (p.13)
- Trade reform (p.15)
- Private sector development (p.19)
- Donor assistance to the reform agenda (p.23)

November 2006: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.5)
- Structural reforms (p.5)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.5)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.8)
- Financial sector development (p.13)
- Trade reform (p.16)
- Private sector development (p.20)
- Donor assistance to the reform agenda (p.26)

April 2006: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.6)
- Structural reforms (p.6)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.6)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.10)
- Financial sector development (p.14)
- Trade reform (p.17)
- Private sector development (p.18)
- Donor assistance to the reform agenda (p.20)

October 2005: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments (p.12)
Economic outlook (p. 36)
Repositioning for growth (p. 52)

April 2005: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

Download report (ENG)

Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.5)
- Structural reforms (p.5)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.5)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.7)
- Financial sector development (p.10)
- Trade reform (p.12)
- Private sector development (p.14)
- Donor assistance to the reform agenda (p.16)

November 2004: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.6)
- Structural reforms (p.6)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.6)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.8)
- Financial sector development (p.11)
- Trade reform (p.13)
- Private sector development (p.17)
- Donor assistance to the reform agenda (p.19)

May 2004: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

Download report (ENG)

Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.6)
- Structural reforms (p.6)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.6)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.7)
- Financial sector development (p.12)
- Trade reform (p.13)
- Private sector development (p.17)

October 2003: Lao PDR Economic Monitor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic developments and outlook (p.1)
Selected issue notes (p.4)
- Structural reforms (p.4)
- Public expenditure policy and management (p.4)
- Reform of state-owned enterprises (p.6)
- Financial sector development (p.8)
- Trade reform (p.11)
- Private sector development (p.15)

June 2016: Leveraging Trade Agreements

Highlights | Presentation | Download report (pdf)

Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development and outlook (p. 6)
Selected issue notes (p. 27)
- Leveraging Trade Agreements

December 2015: Immigrant Labor

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development and outlook (p. 6)
Selected issue notes (p. 28)
- Immigrant Labor

June 2015: Transforming Urban Transport

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development and outlook (p. 5)
Selected issue notes (p. 23)
- Value-added taxes: boon or bane?
- Realizing the economic potential of women
Transforming urban transport (p. 34)

December 2014: Towards a Middle-Class Society

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Executive Summary (Bahasa Malaysia-pdf)

Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development and outlook (p.5)
Selected issue notes (p. 20)
- Implications of lower oil prices for Malaysia’s economy
- Flows and ebbs: capital flows to Malaysia and their macro-financial
implications
- Informing and prioritizing Malaysia’s skills investment
Towards a middle-class society (p. 41)

June 2014: Boosting Trade Competitiveness

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development and outlook (p.5)
Selected issue notes (p. 22)
- Matching talent to jobs
Boosting trade competitiveness (p. 32)

December 2013: High-performing Education

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Sections in this edition:

Recent economic development and outlook (p.5)
Selected issue notes (p. 25)
- Malaysia’s narrowing current account and export competitiveness
- Assessing Malaysia’s recent investment boom
- Progress update on structural reforms
High-performing education (p. 45)