Europeans should be allowed to trade personal data
Well-designed data markets could curb gatekeeper power, protect privacy and pay users for sharing data, while preserving ad-supported digital services. The European debate over personal
Better coordination for a more efficient European energy system
EU energy efficiency hinges on open data, integrated grid planning and aligned national plans as electrification raises the cost of fragmentation. Three steps should be
How AI is affecting productivity and jobs in Europe
Artificial intelligence promises to reshape economies worldwide, but firm-level evidence on its effects in Europe remains scarce. This column uses survey data to examine how
Cohort changes in fertility patterns and the role of shifting priorities
Low fertility rates in high-income countries defy traditional explanations based on a quality/quantity trade-off in the demand for children and the opportunity cost of women’s
Banking on inattention: When deposits hedge or amplify interest rate risk
Deposits are US banks’ primary funding source, but they can also add to interest rate risk. This column presents new micro evidence that depositor inattention
Urban slums: Stepping-stone for some and traps (or shields) for others
Rapid urbanisation has been accompanied by the expansion of urban slums, raising concerns about whether cities foster opportunity or entrench poverty. This column shows that
Why detours improve development outcomes
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus does not reach home by following a flawless plan. His journey is defined by detours, storms, and course corrections. What matters is
Who is Raising Our Children? Screens, Baby Shark, and the Impact on Early Childhood
Sixteen billion. That’s how many times the popular children’s song Baby Shark has been viewed on YouTube. That’s more than twice the world’s population—and here’s what’s truly
How traffic demand management can improve access, equity, and jobs in transit-oriented cities
Cities around the world are grappling with how to expand access to jobs and services while reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and building transport systems that
Six ways to make tourism projects work for people, places, and prosperity
Tourism generates 10 percent of global GDP and supports 1 in 10 jobs worldwide. Because of this, it’s a key sector of interest for the
