Student use of artificial intelligence is reshaping learning and redefining the skills of future workers. This column examines the impact of generative AI tools on academic performance at an Israeli university. Using data from more and less AI-compatible courses, before and after the introduction of ChatGPT, the authors show that AI raises grades – especially […]
This is the ninth in my annual series of efforts to put together data on development economics journals that is not otherwise publicly available or easy to access (see 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 for the previous editions). I once again thank all the journal editors and editorial staff who graciously shared their statistics with me. Journal Quality I compare journals […]
Artificial intelligence is widely seen as a transformative force for productivity and innovation. Yet, its macroeconomic implications remain uncertain, especially from a global perspective. This column shows how structural differences in AI exposure, preparedness, and access in advanced economies, emerging markets, and low-income countries shape the distribution of AI-induced productivity gains. While improvements in AI […]
Advances in AI are transforming the economy. Behind this wave of visible innovation lies a less visible but significant trend: the role of large technology firms – commonly referred to as ‘big techs’ – across the AI supply chain. This column analyses the AI supply chain and the market structure of every input layer, highlighting […]
Global hunger and malnutrition are rising again after decades of progress. In 2024, 343 million people across 74 countries faced acute food insecurity—driven by the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, and economic shocks. In addition, food supply disruptions at local and global levels have become more frequent and severe. Since the 2007–08 global […]
The policies of the Trump administration have put the research environment in the United States under pressure. Public research funding cuts, hostility towards academic freedom, climate science denial and the detaining or exclusion of foreign researchers have unsettled the scientific community in the US. Researchers question the US’s traditional role as a safe haven for […]
Imagine getting to work on a program that will bring internet access and digitally enabled services to 180 million people. Opportunities like these illustrate the meaningful role institutions like the World Bank, and teams across the institution like ours, can play in addressing urgent development challenges that can drastically improve people’s lives. In Eastern and […]
Over half of the world’s critical mineral reserves are located on or near Indigenous lands. As demand for critical minerals is set to surge 500 percent by 2050—and demand for land continues to grow—the need to secure Indigenous Peoples’ land tenure has never been more urgent. Clear and enforceable land rights are essential to regulating mining transparently and […]
The trajectory of an economy’s development can often be better understood through the historical experiences of its populace. This column investigates the long-term impacts of the fall of the Ming dynasty on socioeconomic status, tracing the effects of this historical shock over five generations covering a time span of 300 years. The findings highlight that […]
Over the past decade, China has shifted towards greater self-reliance while enhancing its export competitiveness in advanced economy markets. This column introduces a new index to assess sectoral trade alignment across countries. China is importing fewer goods typically exported by advanced economies, while its exports increasingly resemble their import needs. This shift is intensifying competition […]
