Can entire markets strategically confuse consumers to raise prices? This column tracks the prices of nearly all mobile phone tariffs and handsets in the UK from 2010 to 2012, and finds that quality-adjusted prices rise in the early part of the sample period and decline later. Obfuscation strategies by firms appear to be the primary […]
Did you know? According to the latest estimates from the World Bank’s Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP), 831 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3.00 per day. But how is this number derived? Where does the data come from? In this blog, we take you behind the scenes. To understand how the World […]
The IMF this week edged up its 2025 global growth forecast given a more benign impact from tariffs. Global public debt is projected to rise above 100% of gross domestic product by 2029, reaching its highest level since 1948 and continuing to climb, the IMF said on Wednesday, urging countries to build up buffers to […]
Stock market participation remains low, especially among the older, less affluent, and less educated households, despite its clear benefits for wealth preservation and growth. Although digitisation has reduced some barriers, many households remain disengaged. Using data from a Chinese investment platform, this column shows that digital nudges and financial education via the platform increase stock […]
Education is part of the enabling infrastructure required for jobs, social development, and future economic growth. Unfortunately, low- and middle-income countries face an urgent skills crisis with nearly 70% of children unable to read a simple text by age 10. In response, governments, households, and donors spend more than $5.8 trillion annually on financing education […]
With working-age populations projected to decline rapidly, all European countries face an unprecedented demographic challenge. Inflows of regular foreign workers are thus key to support employment and growth. This column argues that Italy, where the demographic decline is particularly sharp, has a lot to learn from its neighbours to make its migration policies more effective […]
As disasters grow more frequent and severe, the need for fast, reliable information in the immediate aftermath has never been greater. Governments, development partners and humanitarian agencies need to quickly understand the scale and nature of the impact so they can take informed action, mobilize resources and support recovery. Yet, traditional damage assessments can take […]
Droughts, floods, storms, and heatwaves are no longer isolated events—they are reshaping how people live, work, and thrive. Beyond damaged roads or lost harvests, disasters leave scars on health, education, and livelihoods that can last for years. Until now, bringing together climate and human capital data to measure these impacts has been complex and fragmented. […]
Most children in low-and middle-income countries lack foundational skills. An estimated 70% of 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand a simple story, despite increased access to school. Tackling this learning crisis requires more than pilot programs – it demands systemic solutions that can be delivered at scale. Education systems struggle to deliver big results despite […]
In 2021, China’s electronics exports exceeded those of the other five leading exporters combined. This column analyses the rise of China as a centre for electronics manufacturing. It argues that the key drivers of growth were intense competition, education that facilitated technology transfer, and infrastructure development. However, China’s nonlinear innovation model also leaves it dependent […]
