Human soft skills, the key to using agricultural satellite data
Extreme weather events, population growth, and resource constraints are putting unprecedented pressure on agriculture. To respond, farmers around the world need not just tools and
No hygiene, no health: Fixing the foundations of care
When disease outbreaks strike, systems must hold. But in too many places, the absence of basic services, such as clean water, safe sanitation, reliable energy, and
Unlocking energy, jobs and opportunity for Africa’s growing young population
At a workshop in Marimauta Village, Zimbabwe, business is booming. Local entrepreneurs drop by to commission bespoke machinery. A solar-powered maize processing machine serves farmers
Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?
In 2000, the World Bank published, “Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?” This landmark report proposed four crucial areas of progress, and the priorities that were
Powering more with less: How energy efficiency drives growth and jobs
Picture two houses—one with old windows, no insulation, and older appliances, and the other featuring simple energy-efficient upgrades and equipment. The difference between these neighboring
Think global, act local: South Asia’s moment to transform food loss into opportunity
In a region where millions still face hunger and malnutrition, it is concerning that South Asia also loses a significant share of its food before
US wealth inequality in 2022: A modest reversal at the top, persistent challenges below
The causes and consequences of income and wealth inequality are central concerns in economic research and policy discussions. This column presents findings from the 2022
Pricing risks in bull and bear markets
Standard models of asset pricing assume that risky (safe) financial assets have higher returns because they have higher (lower) exposures to systematic risk factors. They
Part-time work slows the narrowing of France’s lifetime gender earnings gap
France has narrowed its gender lifetime earnings gap, but has not managed closed it. Despite legal guarantees, French women still earn 30% less than men
How the 2018/19 US tariffs against China boosted exports and employment in Mexico
In 2018 and 2019, the US administration hiked tariffs on imports from China. This column shows that imports from Mexico partly filled the gap, leading
