While economists have extensively studied gender norms affecting women, masculinity norms – the informal rules that guide and constrain the behaviours of boys and men – remain underexplored. This column reviews how such norms can shape economic outcomes in labour markets, health, education, households, and politics. Drawing on new survey data from 87,000 individuals across […]
Many communities in the US, especially those in rural areas, have limited access to healthcare. For example, some areas have significantly fewer doctors per capita than others, which might contribute to geographic inequities in health outcomes. This column discusses new research that shows how government designations of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas – and […]
Low-income countries and Sub-Saharan Africa are being left behind in global progress toward affordable healthy diets. Around 2.6 billion people – 32% of the global population – could not afford a healthy diet in 2024 The latest estimates of the Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet (CoAHD), published in the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition […]
In Paris, authorities closed more than 1,000 schools — and the summit of the Eiffel Tower — during last month’s heatwave. In Eastern China, the power grid experienced strain as 40.5°C temperatures brought a spike in electricity demand. In the United Kingdom, public health researchers estimated that 500 people died in just five days due to heat […]
Recent evolutions in US attitudes and policies have raised questions about the future of the dollar’s role in the global economy. This column explores a hypothetical scenario in which the world is deprived of the dollar as its global safe asset. In such a world, interest rates would be higher and more volatile. Liquidity would […]
Central Asia is home to some of the lowest savings rates in the world, and this is particularly true in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan. According to 2021 Global Findex data, gross domestic savings rates in these two countries stood at just 6.9% and 12.6%, respectively, well below regional averages in Sub-Saharan […]
Coffee prices remain high despite April dip. Coffee softened slightly in April after hitting record nominal highs. Arabica reached $9/kg in February-March, while Robusta approached $6/kg. In 2025Q1 (q/q), Arabica surged 26 percent (q/q)—almost doubling year-on-year—while Robusta rose 12 percent, marking a two-thirds increase over 2024 levels. Global production rose to 170 million bags in 2023-24 […]
