Education is not only a fundamental human right but also a key investment in human capital that translates into economic growth and other development outcomes. Keeping children in lower-income countries in school longer is one of the best global investments that can be made. Returns to education, particularly at higher education levels, are highest in […]
The poor energy efficiency of much of the world’s housing stock presents a significant challenge for the net zero ambitions of many countries. This column explores the barriers to climate action in England implied by conservation areas, where simple retrofitting measures such as double glazing or the installation of solar photovoltaic panels require approval, a […]
Finance ministries are empowered with functions that allow them to lead a comprehensive, government-wide approach to address climate change. Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges, presenting profound implications for the environment, economies, and societies. Addressing this issue demands collaborative efforts from governments, businesses, and civil society. While environment and climate change […]
Technology is crucial to the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy but it must be accompanied by community-wide behavior changes if it is to be successful, particularly in developing countries. Many regard technology as a beacon of hope for a future free from fossil fuels. Technological advancements bolster the efficiency and effectiveness of renewables, […]
The CEO of privacy-oriented search engine DuckDuckGo said its talks with Apple about a potential contract failed because the smartphone maker was reluctant to give up Google’s multibillion dollar paychecks, according to newly transcripts of a landmark antitrust trial of the Alphabet unit. Gabriel Weinberg, who also founded the company, testified on Sept. 21 on the effect on DuckDuckGo […]
The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have put developing countries under significant stress. This column draws lessons from three generations of currency crises since the 1980s for the current period. The 1980s crisis in Latin America, 1990s crisis in Mexico, and late 1990s crisis in Asia were all characterised by significant […]
Artificial intelligence chipmaker Graphcore said it needed to raise cash due to widening losses, according to a filing, as Nvidia’s dominance in AI chips has chilled funding for startups looking to compete directly. Graphcore produces AI chips called intelligence processor units (IPUs) that aim to take on Nvidia. It reported pre-tax losses widened 11% to $204.6 million, […]
A former executive at Samsung Electronics’ venture capital arm who proposed that mobile app developer Branch Metrics’ software offering be expanded in Samsung smartphones faced pushback due to pressure from Google, he said on Thursday in a landmark antitrust trial against the Alphabet unit. Patrick Chang, who worked at Samsung Next to invest in innovative companies, […]
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is exploring making its own artificial intelligence chips and has gone as far as evaluating a potential acquisition target, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. The company has not yet decided to move ahead, according to recent internal discussions described to Reuters. However, since at least last year […]
At first glance, South Asia is a bright spot in the global economy. The World Bank is forecasting that the region will grow more quickly than any other developing country region over the next few years. Some countries in the region are continuing a trend of strong growth, while others are recovering from a period of […]
