Does index insurance really work for smallholder farmers?
Traditional insurance for smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is prohibitively expensive. Serving rural and remote areas requires costly on-site visits to assess
Building debt transparency and resilience across East Asia and the Pacific
As the world continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, countries face new and unexpected challenges. Elevated debt levels, persistent inflation, and
From coal dust to green jobs: The employment imperative in the low-carbon transition
The last coal mine in Wałbrzych, Poland closed in the 1990s, leaving a region that had long relied on mining facing severe economic disruption. Unemployment
Services trade and environmental sustainability
There is growing recognition that the specific characteristics of services sectors and services trade have important environmental implications. For example, services trade can foster technological
The making of a supply shock: Tariff propagation via domestic production networks
President Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement triggered a discussion of whether import tariffs can reduce trade deficits or boost certain industries. This column develops a model,
The macroeconomic effects of introducing a central bank digital currency
Central bank digital currencies are gaining traction as a potential innovation in central banking, with numerous countries considering their implementation. However, given the limited real-world
Nature markets: how can credits and shares provide durable, additional finance?
Nature markets can boost conservation funding, but strong standards and public support are vital for lasting, equitable ecological benefits Natural ecosystems are declining rapidly, ultimately threatening economies,
Building coalitions for climate transition and nature restoration
Global climate and biodiversity outcomes will largely be determined in emerging and developing economies (EMDEs). We propose a four-pillar strategy to support climate and nature
Reconciling the European Union’s clean industrialisation goals with those of the Global South
Importing energy-intensive goods would be more efficient for EU clean industry goals than importing clean energy itself. Clean industrialisation is a political and economic priority
The time is right to make a European Union-India trade deal happen
Nearly 20 years have passed since the EU and India started negotiations on a bilateral trade and investment agreement. After seven years of intense negotiations,
