Women entrepreneurs could benefit from better targeting, without changing the program content
Every year, governments and development organizations spend billions on business upgrading programs — training, mentorship, consulting — designed to help small firms grow. These programs
Better work, not always better workers
Professional judgement comes from learning by doing, but AI has the potential to disrupt this learning process. This column explores how randomised access to an
Making markets work: The role of effective public institutions in enabling private sector growth and development
Of the roughly 3.74 billion people in the global workforce, about 400 million, or 11 percent, work in the public sector. These are the people who deliver essential services,
Inside the automotive supply chain: Empirical evidence from Italian business-to-business trade data
Europe’s automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation. This column uses firm-to-firm data to map the Italian automotive supply chain, covering both direct suppliers and
Europe’s productivity is more dynamic than aggregate statistics suggest
Aggregate productivity growth in Europe has disappointed over the last two decades, fuelling concerns about competitiveness. This column argues that firm-level evidence points to a
HSBC sells $25 billion Australian home and personal loan portfolio to Blackstone
HSBC , is selling its A$36 billion ($25.30 billion) Australian home and personal loan book to global asset manager Blackstone in the world’s largest-ever home loan portfolio
Mapping the world’s building regulations: new platform for smarter reforms
Every year, the world adds floor space equivalent to a city the size of Paris roughly every five days. Most of that construction happens in
Asian investors eye firms benefiting from but resilient to AI
Asian investors struck a cautious tone on artificial intelligence as they increasingly wager on businesses that can withstand the AI-led disruption and look for firms
When France’s Légion d’honneur awards move stock prices: A market signal of political access
State honours are designed as symbols of merit and public recognition. But they may also convey information with economic value. This column explores the market
Cutting the cost of sending money home: Fast payment systems, digital access, and the future of remittances
Every month, millions of migrant workers send a portion of their earnings home to support their families — often providing the most reliable source of
