Belt, Road Summit concludes with nine deals, $1bln deals
Organizers highlighted that Hong Kongآ’s external trade with Belt and Road countries reached $276bln in 2024. The 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong
Artificial intelligence in the office and the factory: Evidence from administrative software registry data
The rapid adoption of AI in the workplace has raised concerns about job loss. This column uses data covering all AI-related commercial software registered with
Information and the labour market
Workers often remain in their jobs even when they know they may get higher wages elsewhere, raising questions about the effectiveness of pay transparency laws.
How wage inequality affects the labour movement
The negative correlation between inequality and unionisation rates in the US has been extensively documented, but while the other direction of causality – the impact
Beyond fragmentation: Building self-reliance in a shifting aid landscape
The global development landscape is undergoing seismic shifts. Foreign aid, a critical lifeline for billions, is shrinking, after becoming fragmented at an alarming rate over the
Adult skills and productivity: New evidence from PIAAC 2023
Adult skills play a crucial role in shaping productivity. This column uses data from the 2023 OECD Survey of Adult Skills to analyse the relationship
Does index insurance really work for smallholder farmers?
Traditional insurance for smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is prohibitively expensive. Serving rural and remote areas requires costly on-site visits to assess
Part-time work slows the narrowing of France’s lifetime gender earnings gap
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
Employment protection legislation reforms and the rising cost of job loss
A widely cited argument in favour of easing employment protection rules is that greater flexibility in hiring and firing can lead to increased job matching
Developing world cities: Poverty traps versus pathways to prosperity
In higher-income countries, urban proximity has been shown to enhance workers’ skills and income, but less is known about low- and middle-income countries. This column
