Non-bank financial intermediation: Research, policy, and data challenges
Non-bank financial intermediation has grown rapidly since the global financial crisis, and its size now equals that of banks in many countries. This column reviews
Consumers regard the cost of money as part of the cost of living
Economists typically rely on unemployment and inflation rates to gauge how consumers feel about the economy. This column examines why consumer sentiment in the US
Savings responses to increasing retirement ages
Facing pressures from population ageing, many countries are reforming their social security systems, including by increasing retirement ages. This column provides new evidence on the
Austerity and climate (in)action
In the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, many governments implemented austerity policies aimed at reducing budget deficits through public spending cuts. This column
Globalisation and profitability of US firms
The significant reduction in trade barriers along with rising US firm markups in the early 2000s may seem puzzling at first. To explain these trends,
Should AI stay or should AI go: The promises and perils of AI for productivity and growth
There is considerable disagreement about the growth potential of artificial intelligence. Though emerging micro-level evidence shows substantial improvements in firm productivity and worker performance, the
How and why work-from-home rates differ across countries and people
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the shift to work from home around the world, but with significant cross-country variations. This column explores how factors such
The geography of EU discontent and the regional development trap
Political discontent has been on the rise across Europe. This column draws on the concept of regional ‘development traps’ to examine the complex relationship between
Changing central bank pressures and inflation
Despite the large surge in inflation across advanced economies since 2021, long-term expectations are mostly in line with central bank targets. However, this column argues
The promises and pitfalls of a green supply chain
Global supply chains are central to economic policy debates. This column examines recent attempts to regulate climate sustainability within supply chains. By analysing the corporate
