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trade Featured Innovation Productivity World

Export strength does not equal tech strength: Rethinking EU comparative advantage

Amid geopolitical shocks, the EU is revisiting its industrial strategy. However, traditional metrics often paint a misleading picture of Europe’s underlying strength. This column uses a new approach to measure the EU’s relative state of technology in different sectors. It shows that although EU manufacturing broadly outperforms the rest of the world in productivity terms, […]

Finance Business Economy Featured

Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?

In 2000, the World Bank published, “Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?” This landmark report proposed four crucial areas of progress, and the priorities that were highlighted are even more pertinent today: improve governance and reduce conflict, invest in people; increase competitiveness and diversify economies; and reduce aid dependence and debt. Much of what was on […]

Technology Featured Innovation Productivity

Generative AI in universities: Grades up, signals down, skills in flux

Student use of artificial intelligence is reshaping learning and redefining the skills of future workers. This column examines the impact of generative AI tools on academic performance at an Israeli university. Using data from more and less AI-compatible courses, before and after the introduction of ChatGPT, the authors show that AI raises grades – especially […]

Productivity Featured Innovation News World

How the war has affected scientific research in Ukraine

Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine has devastated Ukraine’s scientific productivity. This column examines the war’s impact on Ukrainian research output, drawing on a dataset of over half a million journal articles by researchers affiliated with over 15,000 Ukrainian institutions. Military conflict significantly reduced research activity, particularly in natural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences, with […]

Finance Business Economy Featured News

Artificial intelligence in finance

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the financial sector. This column introduces the seventh report in The Future of Banking series, which examines the fundamental transformations induced by AI and the policy challenges it raises. It focuses on three main themes: the use of AI in financial intermediation, central banking and policy, and regulatory challenges; the […]

Development Economy Featured Finance

Industrial policy lessons from East Germany’s privatisation

There has been renewed interest in industrial policy as a tool to reshape the structure of economic activity, but little evidence exists on the successful design and implementation of these policies. This column examines the transformation of East Germany’s state-controlled economy after the collapse of socialism and draws valuable lessons from the experience for contemporary […]

Climate Development Energy Environment Featured

What will it cost to build the cities of the future?

Cities are engines of economic growth and job creation, and their future pathways will shape global development outcomes for decades to come.  But the success of this transformation depends on making the right investments now—investments that strengthen essential infrastructure, unlock new jobs, and build cities that are more sustainable and resilient.  The charts below visualize […]

Economy Featured Finance News

Fiscal stagnation

Public debt-to-GDP ratios have climbed to historic highs in most advanced economies. This column studies the connection between productivity growth, fiscal policy, and public debt. Using a theoretical model, it argues that a feedback loop is possible between fiscal policy and growth. Large primary surpluses are associated with fiscal distortions which depress investment and productivity […]

Development Featured Innovation News Productivity

The global impact of AI: Mind the gap

Artificial intelligence is widely seen as a transformative force for productivity and innovation. Yet, its macroeconomic implications remain uncertain, especially from a global perspective. This column shows how structural differences in AI exposure, preparedness, and access in advanced economies, emerging markets, and low-income countries shape the distribution of AI-induced productivity gains. While improvements in AI […]

Covid-19 Economy Featured Finance

When upskilling is good but not enough: Understanding labour shortages through a job-quality lens

Advanced economies are still experiencing labour shortages in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This column examines the high labour shortages across OECD countries, focusing on wage and non-wage job quality. Real wages have generally increased, but with differences between countries and industries. Beyond pay, job insecurity, poor working conditions, and exposure to health risks […]