Measuring what matters for business: The new B-READY data in the World Development Indicators
What makes a country a great place to start and grow a business? Among low-income economies across the world, only 29% have a single centralized
Explaining firm-level reactions to macro shocks
Understanding differences in firm responses to macroeconomic shocks is key for designing policy actions. This column identifies 67 macro shocks using ‘jump’ days in the
From crisis to action: Mobilizing tools for rapid response and lasting resilience
Over the past year, I’ve seen a growing interest in, and a stronger demand for, better tools to prepare for and respond to crises. Our
HSBC agrees to sell $7.8 billion of French mortgages to Rothesay
HSBC has agreed to sell 6.7 billion euros ($7.81 billion) worth of French home loans to British insurer Rothesay and consortium partner CCF Group, the
PayPal to launch cross-border platform with link to India’s UPI payments system
Payments firm PayPal has partnered with the operator of India’s popular unified payments interface and others to launch a global platform through which consumers can
From coal dust to green jobs: The employment imperative in the low-carbon transition
The last coal mine in Wałbrzych, Poland closed in the 1990s, leaving a region that had long relied on mining facing severe economic disruption. Unemployment
The macroeconomic effects of introducing a central bank digital currency
Central bank digital currencies are gaining traction as a potential innovation in central banking, with numerous countries considering their implementation. However, given the limited real-world
How the SS Great Britain overcame the tyranny of distance
The transition from sail to steam power for cargo and passenger shipping to Australia lagged behind the North Atlantic by nearly two decades. This column
Unlocking energy, jobs and opportunity for Africa’s growing young population
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
Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?
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
