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
Microfinance’s promise was oversold, not broken
The Wall Street Journal recently published a sobering account of microfinance’s shortcomings, documenting troubling cases of over-indebtedness, land loss, and borrower distress in countries such
Less focus on poverty reduction? An evaluation of the EU 2028-2034 development aid plan
European Union development aid is emphasising poverty reduction less and directing attention to other geopolitical priorities. As part of the planned European Union budget for
Can we even measure progress? The state of development data
Imagine you’ve just been appointed Minister of Finance. Tomorrow morning, you must decide where to build schools and clinics, how much to borrow, and which
Unlocking the benefits of green water flows for growth and development
At the Global Facility for Transboundary Waters, when we speak with stakeholders about transboundary water management, the conversation almost always centers on the stewardship of what
Unlocking the benefits of green water flows for growth and development
At the Global Facility for Transboundary Waters, when we speak with stakeholders about transboundary water management, the conversation almost always centers on the stewardship of what
Building Resilience in Europe and Central Asia: A Smart Investment for Growth and Jobs
The data is clear: Investments in adaptation and resilience deliver high economic returns but remain insufficient and poorly targeted. Evidence shows that targeted, early investments
When the ruler is made of the thing it measures: Multi-model evidence on AI occupational exposure scores
To estimate how AI is reshaping work, it is now standard to ask AI itself to score how exposed each occupation is. The instrument is
When public money multiplies, and when it does not: A guide to the catalytic effect of blended finance
Achieving sustainable development goals needs blended finance, where public money is used to crowd in larger private capital flows. The catalytic multiplier is a central
The market value of non-degree credentials: New evidence from 37 million US workers
Non-degree credentials are rapidly multiplying as alternatives to traditional higher education, but in a largely unregulated market. This column draws on nearly 40 million US
