Laws, Data, and Empowerment: Insights from UNDP’s Women’s Empowerment Index and World Bank’s Women Business and Law Index
When it comes to improving economic outcomes for women and women’s empowerment, effective action requires reliable data. Yet, data capturing the full scope of women’s
Beyond carbon: The overlooked benefits of fuel taxation
Fuel and carbon prices are typically assessed based on their effectiveness in reducing emissions, while their broader societal benefits often go overlooked. This column evaluates
Childhood friendships and the gender equality paradox in education
The most economically prosperous and gender-equal societies often display stronger gender segregation in educational choices – a pattern known as the ‘gender equality paradox’. This
Trade’s emissions paradox: What it means for developing countries
International trade plays a complex role in shaping environmental outcomes. A new World Bank paper, “Trade’s Emissions Paradox: Cutting Greenhouse Gases, Raising Air Pollution,” prepared
Beyond fragmentation: Building self-reliance in a shifting aid landscape
The global development landscape is undergoing seismic shifts. Foreign aid, a critical lifeline for billions, is shrinking, after becoming fragmented at an alarming rate over the
Building debt transparency and resilience across East Asia and the Pacific
As the world continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, countries face new and unexpected challenges. Elevated debt levels, persistent inflation, and
Services trade and environmental sustainability
There is growing recognition that the specific characteristics of services sectors and services trade have important environmental implications. For example, services trade can foster technological
HSBC to cut 10% of its workforce in France
HSBC plans to cut 348 jobs in France through a voluntary redundancy scheme, amounting to about 10% of its workforce in the country, the bank said
How much research talent could Europe grab from the US?
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,
Human capital formation as a key component in Europe’s defence build-up
Government spending on defence, particularly defence R&D, can have significant economic spillovers. This column argues that the forthcoming European defence build-up must include a long-term
