Understanding what AI can do and how it is different from previous digital tools gives us a way of imagining pathways through which it could advance human development. All countries confront this, but lower human development index (HDI) countries face the additional challenge that previously pursued development pathways through export-led manufacturing are narrowing. Low HDI […]
Extreme weather events, population growth, and resource constraints are putting unprecedented pressure on agriculture. To respond, farmers around the world need not just tools and inputs, but timely, actionable information. Harnessing better data—from weather forecasts and soil health to market trends and water availability—can help farmers anticipate shocks, optimize resources, and make more informed decisions […]
When disease outbreaks strike, systems must hold. But in too many places, the absence of basic services, such as clean water, safe sanitation, reliable energy, and proper waste management, undermines the resilience of health services. Yemen is a case in point. Years of conflict decimated the country’s water and sanitation infrastructure, and health systems were ravaged. […]
At a workshop in Marimauta Village, Zimbabwe, business is booming. Local entrepreneurs drop by to commission bespoke machinery. A solar-powered maize processing machine serves farmers across the region. Young apprentices learn new technical and digital skills. The scene contrasts sharply with 2019 when Cyclone Idai ripped through the area, tearing down power lines and shuttering […]
In 2000, the World Bank published, “Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?” This landmark report proposed four crucial areas of progress, and the priorities that were highlighted are even more pertinent today: improve governance and reduce conflict, invest in people; increase competitiveness and diversify economies; and reduce aid dependence and debt. Much of what was on […]
Picture two houses—one with old windows, no insulation, and older appliances, and the other featuring simple energy-efficient upgrades and equipment. The difference between these neighboring houses is more than just aesthetics. Those living in the first house could ending up paying up to five times more for heating in winter than the better-off family just […]
In a region where millions still face hunger and malnutrition, it is concerning that South Asia also loses a significant share of its food before it ever reaches the plate. Over 30% of all food in the region is lost or wasted each year, which is enough to feed nearly 300 million people. From farm to […]
The causes and consequences of income and wealth inequality are central concerns in economic research and policy discussions. This column presents findings from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances on the state of US economic inequality. Three key patterns emerge: wealth remains highly concentrated, younger generations are accumulating less wealth than their predecessors, and wealth […]
Standard models of asset pricing assume that risky (safe) financial assets have higher returns because they have higher (lower) exposures to systematic risk factors. They also typically assume that these exposures to risk and the degree of co-movement across assets are the same in good times and bad times. Yet, there is ample evidence that […]
France has narrowed its gender lifetime earnings gap, but has not managed closed it. Despite legal guarantees, French women still earn 30% less than men over a career. This column tracks lifetime income for cohorts born 1942–1964 and finds that convergence has stalled since the 1980s, mostly due to rising part-time work among women. Working […]
