Why some digital payment systems replace cash and others don’t
Digital payment systems promise to extend financial services to people underserved by banks, and overcoming barriers to the adoption of such systems is thus central
Why the post-pandemic US immigration surge barely moved inflation
The US experienced a large immigration surge between 2021 and 2024, which coincided with a period of high and then falling inflation. This column shows
Availability, accessibility, affordability of quality food are vital for food security, says FAO
The Director-General emphasised that the “Four Levels of Food” provide a crucial roadmap for enhancing food security. However, he noted that implementation requires systemic coherence.
When privacy protects but excludes: The hidden costs of data restrictions in digital lending
Privacy regulations empower consumers, but they can also cut off credit for the populations that digital lenders were built to serve. Using application-level data on
Electoral systems and immigration policies
Immigration has become one of the most salient issues in political debate. This column uses evidence from Italian municipal elections to highlight the role of
Accommodating emerging giants in the global economy
History provides many examples of large changes in the relative economic size of nations. This column examines the impact of rapid economic growth in emerging
A vignette study of work from home and attitudes to household work
Work from home has boomed since the Covid pandemic. This column uses a vignette experiment to explore how working from home links to gendered attitudes
Health adversity weakens support for fairer healthcare
People’s quality of life is directly affected by policy decisions about access to healthcare and funding, making it increasingly important to understand how the public
Raising employment among women and older workers: A policy lever for ageing economies
Declining working-age populations are set to weigh on growth across economies where the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development invests and beyond, with demographic projections
Demographic change: Headwinds for economic growth
With fertility rates falling and populations ageing worldwide, the impact of demographic change on economic prosperity has become a central policy concern. This column uses
