IMF–World Bank Conference on Managing Systemic Crises 
On May 26, 2009, Stijn Claessens (IMF) and Asli Demirguc-Kunt (World Bank) jointly organized a one-day conference on “Managing Systemic Crises and Redesigning Financial Systems,” featuring several experts in the field. Some of the issues were hotly debated, but several policy recommendations emerged from the discussion.
 

The Use of Bankruptcy in the Resolution of Corporate Distress
Prospects of illiquidity and potential insolvency are becoming more likely around the world--and one of the important concerns for policymakers is the effectiveness of existing bankruptcy regimes. 

How to Bring Banks Back to Life: Q&A with Asli Demirguc-Kunt
The current distress of large international banks in the US and Europe is spurring a rethinking of banking system regulations both in rich countries and in emerging markets. Asli Demirguc-Kunt, Senior Research Manager for Finance and Private Sector Development in the World Bank’s Development Research Group, offers her thoughts on some of today’s most pressing questions.

Finance and Private Sector Development Impact Series 
This new series summarizes findings and lessons from impact evaluations in the areas of finance and private sector development conducted by researchers in the Development Research Group.

• June 2009 - Do Marginal Firms in Bolivia Benefit from Formalizing?

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Financial Development and Structure database (updated: May 2009)
This is a new database of indicators of financial development and structure across coutnries and over time. This database is unique in that it unites a variety of indicators that measure the size, activity, and efficiency of financial intermediaries and markets.

"New Entrepreneurship Database"
The 2008 World Bank Group Entrepreneurship Survey (WBGES) continues to illustrate the importance of entrepreneurship for the dynamism of the modern economy. In its third year, the WBGES measures entrepreneurial activity in over 100 developing and industrial countries around the world over the eight year period 2000-2007. The WBGES provides empirical evidence that a good regulatory environment can increase entrepreneurial activity in developing countries.

Trends of financial system development, politicians and banks, causes of the 2008 recession, regulatory reform in the wake of the financial crisis, plus much more...… Website 

The joint World Bank-International Monetary Fund Conference on Managing Systemic Crises and Redesigning Financial Systems took place on May 26, 2009. The Conference explored issues of regulatory reform and corporate and financial restructuring in the wake of financial crises.

Call for Papers A conference on Entrepreneurship and Growth, jointly with the Kauffman Foundation is planned for November 19-20, 2009. Please submit papers by June 1, 2009.

Conference on The International Financial Crisis: Have the Rules of Finance Changed? co-sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the World Bank will take place on September 24, 2009 to September 25, 2009 to examine the recent global financial upheaval, whether financial principles seem to have shifted in recent years, and what that may mean for international financial markets and regulation.