What is the World Bank advising these countries to do now to weather the crisis?
To some of the good performers, like Poland, where we are financial active, we recommend marginal changes on the economic policy front that would pay off in the long-term. Let me emphasize, not because there is an emergency today, but something that will bear fruit in five and ten years – for example, long-term care for the aging. In the short-term, we are advising countries to look at their social safety nets. Because of the economic downturn, they will have more people becoming unemployed. Are these countries well-equipped in terms of social safety nets? Are their social safety nets well targeted to make sure that the poor and vulnerable are covered? Can we make sure that there is sufficient money going to health and education, so social systems will survive this difficult period? In addition, it is critically important to preserve the productive spending that is taking place, so that in a difficult environment like this where you may be forced to cut spending in order to maintain th
