The article presents the results of research concerning natural persons conducting economic activity registered in the REGON system that characterize the development of entrepreneurship in rural ...areas in Poland in the post-accession period. The main objective of this study was to identify the development tendencies and territorial diff erentiation in the range of the analysed form of economic activity. The research was conducted using computer local data banks (BDL) published by Central Statistical Offi ce of Poland, and also the techniques of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to depict parts of the results in the form of thematic maps. The analysis of registered natural persons in relation to the population (per 100 inhabitants) was carried out at the two levels: local (in all municipalities in the country) for 2003–2012, as well as regional level (for 16 voivodeships) for 2003–2014. The research pointed to an increase of the importance of economic entrepreneurship in development of rural areas, and at the same time it showed a large territorial diff erentiation in this respect.
The objectives of the diagnostic review of consumer protection and financial literacy for Armenia are: (i) to assess the existing financial consumer protection framework, by reviewing laws, ...regulations and practices in Armenia compared to international good practices; and (ii) to provide recommendations on ways to improve consumer protection and financial literacy in Armenia. The review provides a detailed assessment of the institutional, legal and regulatory framework in four financial segments, namely banking, non-bank credit institutions, securities, and insurance. Many key steps have already been taken in financial consumer protection, especially at the regulatory and institutional levels. Regarding the institutional framework, adequate resources need to be allocated to the consumer protection team and modern supervisory tools should be made available. Consumer organizations should be strengthened and motivated to assist the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) in market monitoring. In terms of consumer disclosure, the CBA should issue regulations that require financial institutions to provide clear, understandable, timely, comparable and standardized information to consumers. In the area of regulation of business practices, the CBA should require that sales agents are well trained and should test them regularly. All financial institutions should regularly analyze the complaints received and the analysis should be provided to the CBA. The Steering Committee for the National Strategy of Financial Education should become the key body to manage financial education in Armenia.
The World Bank group, among the world's largest development institutions, is a major source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. In fiscal 2009, the World ...Bank group sponsored 767 projects with a total commitment of $58.8 billion, distributed in credits, loans, grants, and guarantees. This fiscal year's funding marks a 54 percent increase over the previous fiscal year and a record high for the Bank group. The Bank group's investment projects are aimed largely at improving infrastructure services associated with poverty reduction and enhanced growth. In fiscal 2009, the Bank group committed $20.7 billion to infrastructure, a critical sector to provide the foundation for rapid recovery from the crisis and to support job creation. The sustainable infrastructure action plan, launched in July 2008, will leverage up to $72 billion to provide additional financing of up to $149 billion in public and private investments over fiscal 2009-11. The Bank group's investment projects are aimed largely at improving infrastructure services associated with poverty reduction and enhanced growth.
