Inclusive labour force participation can reverse the economic consequences of population ageing
Demographic ageing is putting considerable pressure on the economic and social systems of industrialised countries. This column highlights that although the US is in a
The effects of Tobacco 21 laws on tobacco product use: Comparing self-reports and biomarkers
Raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 has emerged as a preferred strategy to reduce the rates of youth smoking and vaping
Different household, different inflation rate
Households differ considerably in terms of the inflation they experience at any point in time. This column examines the nature and sources of inflation differences
Demand versus supply: Drivers of the post-pandemic inflation and interest rates
Whether post-pandemic inflation can be explained by demand-side versus supply-side factors is critical for setting monetary policy. Nevertheless, there is widespread disagreement about the underlying
Managing to cope with natural disasters
Human-induced climate change is making disasters more frequent and more intense. Policy could help reduce the economic costs of climate change by helping firms withstand
Trust, intangible assets, and productivity
Business environments dominated by information flows and autonomous tasks, typical of knowledge-intensive industries, are likely to require enough social capital to be viable and productive.
The impact of road connectivity on fertility and child health in rural India
Expansion in access to public infrastructure has been found to improve a host of development outcomes. This column uses variation in the access to paved
The state of gender inequality in Latin America
Women in Latin America have higher educational attainment than men, and gender inequality in maths and reading scores has fallen over time. Yet, gender gaps
The speed of firm response to inflation
Firm inflation expectations are a key driver of future price growth. This column uses a large economy-wide business survey to understand the response of firms
The green transition and public finances: Balancing climate mitigation and fiscal sustainability
The need to mitigate climate change has never been more urgent. Governments play a critical role in the green transition, through green public investment, subsidies,
