Improving early child development outcomes in low-income settings requires affordable, sustainable, and easily scalable solutions. The “First Steps” programme in Rwanda has substantial positive effects on child development and offers a blueprint for interventions seeking to improve parental practices.

It is only democracies that perform well on the dimensions that the public cares about – economic growth, control of corruption, peace and political stability and public good provision – that build support for democratic institutions

The sourcing strategies of global buyers can have profound implications for suppliers in low-income countries. Using novel data, research in the garment sector reveals how global buyers differ in their approach to sourcing and why that matters for suppliers’ margins.

A cash grant and training programme had a range of benefits for women in Tunisia, but only improved participation in income-generating activities for women who attended training without their partner

Production delays, sudden windfalls, and political reactions after discoveries create major challenges for local governments in Brazil

Commodity specialisation in Colombia during the late 19th and 20th centuries had negative impacts on the demand for education during a surge in global demand for coffee

A large-scale financial aid policy in Colombia boosted social mobility for low-income, high-achieving students and improved the equity and efficiency of higher education

A prison construction programme in Colombia aimed at improving prison conditions reduced recidivism of released offenders and was a net benefit to society

Examining the expansion of Jakarta’s bus system shows how simple improvements in public transport service quality can boost usage