Trade risk and optimal trade policy: Lessons from food security
Geopolitical shocks and trade disruptions have made imports less reliable, especially for essential goods like food. This column outlines a framework where trade costs are
Generative AI in German firms: Diffusion, costs, and expected economic effects
The novelty and speed of diffusion of generative AI means that evidence on its impact on productivity and the future of work is scarce. This
Productivity, firm size, and why distortions hurt developing economies
In many developing countries, productive firms remain too small, while less productive firms are too large. Such misallocation contributes to losses in aggregate productivity. This
EU barriers to scaling up: The case of fragmented product markets
European firms tend to be smaller and less productive than US firms. Qualitative and survey-based evidence suggests that one key reason is the remaining barriers
FDI and growth in the age of global value chains
Existing evidence indicates that foreign direct investment promotes growth only when host economies have the human capital and deep financial markets to absorb spillovers. This
Better regulation in the European Union needs a fresh start
A solid EU better regulation framework is undermined by gaps in coverage and quality, making consistent application and stronger oversight essential. Despite having developed a
Winners and losers from remote work: How firm capabilities impact productivity
Work from home is now a permanent feature of how firms organise production, yet its effects on productivity remain unclear. Using new data covering all
You only live twice: A growth strategy for Ukraine
Between regaining independence in 1991 and the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine went from being on par with the more prosperous economies of the former
Minimum wages and insurance within the firm
While much of the debate over minimum wages focuses on how they affect average pay levels or job losses, an equally important question is how
Introducing the World Bank Land Data Map
From urbanization to agriculture, land systems touch nearly every aspect of development. That’s why the World Bank Group has launched the Land Data Map, a new
