Confronting AIDS Public Priorities in a Global Epidemic

A major source of vulnerability in the CE5 is their nascent financial systems and their ability to handle large and increasing volume of capital. As the experience of Ease Asia demonstrates, a high priority should be given to improving the quality and performance of the banking system. --From Financial Integration, Vulnerabilities... The objective of this study is to help assess the possible vulnerabilities in a number of Central European countries as they proceed with global financial integration and EU accession. The report focuses on those countries slated to be the first in the region to join the EU, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia (CE5). The study: * Discusses the context and presents a short description of the CE5 countries' experience in attracting capital flows * Analyzes the manifestations of vulnerability to financial crises and sustainability of foreign capital flows to the CE5 * Interprets the results and draws implications in view of the initial conditions of the various countries * Compares the EU accession of the CE5 to the Southern Mediterranean countries' accession to the EC in the 1980s * Draws conclusions and makes recommendationsWorld Bank Staff is the author of 'Confronting AIDS Public Priorities in a Global Epidemic' with ISBN 9780195215915 and ISBN 0195215915.