Navigating sudden stops: How credit support policies can replace shrinking capital flows
Sudden stops in international capital flows pose significant challenges for policymakers, especially in emerging markets. These abrupt halts in cross-border flows disrupt firms’ access to
When the lights go out: Power, trust, and the future of Europe’s energy transition
The blackout on 28 April 2025 that left all of Spain and Portugal in the dark was a stark reminder of the fragility of our
Which companies are ahead in frontier innovation on critical technologies? Comparing China, the European Union and the United States
Competition in critical technologies is attracting increasing attention not only because of the foundational nature of these technologies for other types of innovation, but also
Anchored in troubled waters: Why Economic and Monetary Union membership is less bad than you might think
Recent events, such as tariff announcements, illustrate that even global shocks may feature important country-specific components. This column finds that a monetary union shapes the
The rising cost of motherhood in Germany
Reductions in women’s labour supply after childbirth remain a persistent driver of gender earnings inequality. Using data from West Germany from the 1960s to 2013,
Global food commodity prices ease amid improved supply conditions and trade concerns
This blog post is part of a special series based on the April 2025 Commodity Markets Outlook, a flagship report published by the World Bank. This
How digitization is disrupting collateral-based lending
In the fast-paced world of finance, ongoing digitization is disrupting the traditional rules of banking with profound consequences. Our lives have also become more digital through
Investing in Mental Health: An Economic and Social Imperative for Latin America and the Caribbean
Mental health represents a significant public health challenge and a critical economic and social issue for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), particularly
Disaster protection: How public-private insurance programs can make low-income countries more resilient
The growing toll of global disaster and climate losses seems inescapable. The year 2024 was another record-breaking year, with global disaster losses estimated at over
The foreign returns of nations: A puzzle
Global external assets exceeded 200% of world GDP in 2020. Comparing the performance of foreign investments for 13 advanced economies between 1975 and 2023, this
