The macroeconomic impact of ageing, EU immigration policy and pension expenditures
The EU faces ageing-driven fiscal strain, slower growth and rising pension costs, making employment-focused migration increasingly vital. The European Union population is ageing increasingly rapidly,
Mobile phone ownership is widespread. Why is digital inclusion still lagging?
The increasing use of mobile phones is making a range of digital resources more widely available to people across the income spectrum. Eighty-four percent of
How the US South caught up: A century of manufacturing productivity convergence
Economic historians have long debated whether lagging regions can catch up in productivity with industrial leaders. This column shows that, under the right conditions, such
Protect to prosper: How nature-based tourism drives jobs and growth
That selfie you took on an idyllic white sand beach, in a sprawling city park, or atop a mountain range at sunset? It’s more than
Addressing food insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa: innovations in data monitoring
Food insecurity remains a critical issue affecting millions of people across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP). The region faces a wide
When the heat rises, progress on women’s economic empowerment cools
Hotter-than-usual years can slow or derail advances in women’s legal rights. A new analysis spanning five decades finds that temperature anomalies—years significantly hotter than a country’s historical
Geopolitical shifts and their economic impacts on Europe: Short-term risks, medium-term scenarios and policy choices
Over the last decade, Europe has suffered from the decay of the post-war international order, economic coercion from both China and the United States, and
Migration flows from the Western Balkans to Germany: implications and recommendations
Migration to Germany is shaping the Western Balkans for better and worse, highlighting the need for reforms to harness benefits and mitigate drawbacks. Migration has
What tax data teach us about firms, trade and jobs
Where do jobs come from, and how can we learn more about firms that create them? Governments need to know which firms create employment, how
The long life spans of royals reveal the secret of ‘healthy stress’
Social status can have a long-lasting influence on people’s health and longevity. This column explores the lifespan of royals – whose status is determined by
