2018年最不发达国家报告（英文版）-21mb

Summary of the Least Developed Countries Report 2018

Core Content

The Least Developed Countries Report 2018 focuses on the role of entrepreneurship in driving structural transformation and achieving sustainable development in the least developed countries (LDCs). It outlines the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurship in these countries, emphasizing the need for a policy approach beyond business as usual.

Main Viewpoints

• Entrepreneurship and structural transformation are closely linked, with transformational entrepreneurship being central to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030.
• Dynamic entrepreneurship is crucial for generating economic and social innovations, creating dignified employment, and contributing to improved quality of life and fiscal sustainability.
• Underdevelopment and unfavorable trade participation in LDCs limit the emergence of opportunity-seeking entrepreneurs, which in turn endangers structural transformation and weakens national ownership of development.
• Entrepreneurship policy in LDCs must be strategic, coordinated, and long-term, as it is often used as a substitute for unemployment and a remedy for structural inequalities, but is not always effective.
• The report advocates for a structural transformation-centred approach to entrepreneurship policy, recognizing the disparities in the impact of different types of entrepreneurship on development.
• Large enterprises also play a pivotal and complementary role in LDCs, alongside SMEs and informal enterprises, and should not be overlooked in policy formulation.

Key Information

Definitions and Criteria

• The least developed countries (LDCs) are defined by the United Nations and are classified based on geographical and structural criteria.
• LDCs are reviewed every three years by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP).
• The three criteria for graduation from LDC status are:
  1. Per capita income (thresholds of $1,025 for addition and $1,230 for graduation).
  2. Human assets (nutrition, child mortality, maternal mortality, school enrollment, and literacy).
  3. Economic vulnerability (natural shocks, trade-related shocks, and remoteness).

Graduation Status (as of 2018)

• Five countries have confirmed graduation dates: Angola (February 2021), Vanuatu (December 2020), Bhutan, Sao Tome and Principe, and Solomon Islands.
• Two hypothetical cases (Kiribati and Tuvalu) are subject to a decision by member states.
• Nepal and Timor-Leste have been deferred to 2021 for consideration.
• Three countries (Bangladesh, Lao PDR, and Myanmar) are pre-eligible for graduation, with the possibility of full eligibility in 2021.

Structural Transformation and Entrepreneurship

• Structural transformation in LDCs requires a shift from low-productivity sectors to high-productivity sectors.
• Entrepreneurship is a key driver of this transformation, especially through innovation, new business models, and value addition.
• The report highlights the informal sector and rural enterprises as significant contributors to the entrepreneurial landscape in LDCs.
• Firm heterogeneity is an important factor in structural transformation, as it reflects the diversity of entrepreneurial activities and their impact on the economy.

Policy Recommendations

• The report calls for policy principles that support transformational entrepreneurship, including:
  • Strategic and coordinated action across relevant policy areas.
  • Smart policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation.
  • Long-term nurturing of entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• It emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships and digital transformation in enhancing business-to-consumer electronic commerce readiness.
• Women's entrepreneurship is highlighted as a critical area requiring policy attention and support mechanisms.

Key Sectors and Challenges

• The informal sector is a major component of the entrepreneurial landscape in LDCs, often due to lack of access to formal registration and limited financial resources.
• Constraints to entrepreneurship in LDCs include:
  • Limited access to finance.
  • High costs and procedures to start a business.
  • Weak infrastructure and low levels of digital readiness.
  • Gender-related gaps in entrepreneurial activity and business registration.
• Global value chains (GVCs) are seen as a potential pathway for LDCs to integrate into the global economy, but their participation is often limited due to structural and institutional weaknesses.

Conclusion

The report underscores the importance of entrepreneurship in driving structural transformation and sustainable development in LDCs. It calls for a more proactive and integrated policy approach, recognizing the complexities and diversity of entrepreneurial ecosystems in these countries. The 2011 Istanbul vision aimed to enable half of the LDCs to graduate by 2020, but the 2018 review showed that only 29% of LDCs have qualified for graduation, falling short of the target. The report suggests that policy coherence, capacity building, and investment in innovation are essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in LDCs.