The 2025 trade war: Dynamic impacts across US states and the global economy
In 2025, the US government announced a series of tariff increases targeting major trading partners, including Canada, China, and Mexico. This column estimates the economic
Employment protection legislation reforms and the rising cost of job loss
A widely cited argument in favour of easing employment protection rules is that greater flexibility in hiring and firing can lead to increased job matching
Sanctions, trade shocks, and firms’ adjustment margins
The sanctions which followed the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine generated a large trade shock for firms trading with Russia. This column examines the short-run
How to manage the economic trade-offs of public procurement policies in developing economies
Government procurement—the process in which public entities buy goods and services from private companies—represents between 5% and 20% of a country’s GDP, depending on the
Big techs’ AI empire
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
Agreed and disagreed uncertainty: Rethinking the macroeconomic impact of uncertainty
The conventional wisdom is that uncertainty leads to economic contractions, but recent evidence challenges this assumption. This column introduces two novel concepts of uncertainty –
Working from home boosted growth by expanding disability employment
Individuals with a disability have remarkably low employment rates compared to the rest of the population. This column examines whether the rapid rise in the
The impact of international economic sanctions on informal employment
Economic sanctions have become an increasingly common instrument of foreign policy, promoted as a non-violent alternative to military intervention. However, their effects on labour markets
Agrifood powers economies and jobs across Europe and Central Asia
As economies develop, it is often assumed that agriculture becomes less relevant—a small slice of GDP and a shrinking share of employment. But evidence from
Effects of monetary policy on labour income: The role of the employer
How do monetary policy shocks affect workers’ wages and employment? This column looks at the role that firms play in determining the wage and employment
