Tracking the changing role of foreign direct investment and remittances—check the latest WDI data
For decades, foreign direct investment (FDI) was seen as the primary engine of development finance. But that’s changing, as FDI flows fall off and remittances
How Amazonian rangers are building better jobs on the frontline of conservation
Every year on July 31, World Ranger Day offers us a moment to celebrate the people standing on the frontlines of nature. This year’s theme,
Digital banks, social media, and the competition for deposits
The rapid digitalisation of banking and the widespread use of social media are transforming competition for retail deposits. Using US branch-level data, this column shows
Creating Jobs Through a Business Plan Competition: Does it matter how entrepreneurs are selected and how much funding they are given?
Of the estimated 244 million firms in Africa, 232 million (95%) are own-account businesses consisting of only the owner, and a further 7.7 million (3.1%) have
Climate fairness, economic development, and Europe’s responsibility
The idea of equal cumulative emissions per person is simple: every individual should have an equal claim on the atmosphere regardless of where they live.
Small AI, big bets: How the world’s most impactful AI startups will be built in emerging markets
Walk into a hospital in Nigeria, where one doctor serves every 9,000 patients–fifteen times the WHO-recommended ratio. Every minute that a doctor spends on administrative
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
A generational challenge: Turning a record youth surge into a jobs dividend
Between 2025 and 2035, the largest-ever cohort of young people in emerging market and developing economies will reach working age. Slowing growth, overlapping crises, tight
Exchange rate communication in practice: Evidence from two decades of ECB press conferences
Evidence is mixed on whether central banks can influence exchange rates simply by talking about them. This column explores this question by analysing more than
Investing in the future: ensuring women-led small businesses can thrive
When we picture engines of economic growth and job creation, we tend to think of large multinational companies and global brands. Yet, in emerging and
