Understanding country income: World Bank Group income classifications for FY26 (July 1, 2025–June, 2026)
Every year, the World Bank Group classifies the world’s economies into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high. These classifications, updated each year on July
Powering the energy future of Europe and Central Asia
The prosperity and economic transformation of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) hinge on making energy reliable and affordable for all. Across the region, many countries
The world needs radical debt transparency
Over the past two decades, many developing countries have made remarkable progress in reducing poverty, expanding access to education and health care, and investing in
How developing countries can measure exposure to the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism
In January 2026, the European Union will require importers of certain carbon-intensive goods to pay for their products’ embodied carbon emissions. The policy, known as the
Why Childcare Matters for Women’s Jobs in the Agrifood Sector
“When I tried to find work in the handmade hammock industry, a traditional craft in my area, I only lasted two months because I had
How accurately can we estimate the hidden costs of what we eat?
The world is seriously off track to meet global nutrition targets. In fact, in some countries, statistics are moving in the wrong direction. Stunting remains
Customized strategies key to setting up MSMEs, start-ups for success
Developing countries invest about $1 billion annually to train millions of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. While significant, this investment doesn’t fully address the shortage of
Liquidity crisis support made in Switzerland and the too-big-to-fail subsidy
Banking crises have repeatedly inflicted serious damage on the real economy. This column discusses a new proposal for a public liquidity backstop in Switzerland to
The value added tax paradox in resource-dependent economies
The introduction of value added taxes has been widely perceived as successful, boosting government revenue and stimulating industrialisation. This contrasts with the empirical finding that,
Gender role attitudes and female labour supply
Increasing women’s labour force participation and career progression is a key priority for policymakers in developing and developed economies alike. A central question is whether
