Macroeconomics & Growth

Why the costs of fiscal adjustment have been underestimated in Africa

New narrative evidence for sub-Saharan Africa shows that fiscal tightening has larger negative effects on output in downturns, when implemented through spending cuts, and when aid is scarce.

Hany Abdel-Latif Khalil Bechchani Antonio David Thibault Lemaire

Published

09.04.26

Why African cities are central to global development

900 million people will be added to African cities by 2050. Getting this unprecedented urban transition right is one of the defining development challenges of our time.

Macroeconomics & Growth

Oliver Hanney Kurtis Lockhart

Published

31.03.26

Modern industrial policy: The Asian miracles’ blueprint for developing economies

Industrial policy, a powerful tool for economic development in the ‘Asian Miracles’, was based on the three key principles: promoting sophisticated export-oriented industries, fostering innovation and competition, and building accountable leading age...

Macroeconomics & Growth

Reda Cherif Fuad Hasanov

Published

19.03.26

Frontier markets: Much promise, mixed progress

Frontier markets have significant potential for future growth and job creation, due to their large and rapidly growing populations, improving human capital, and increasing integration into international financial markets. However, their economic perf...

Macroeconomics & Growth

Tommy Chrimes Rafaela Martinho Henriques

Published

18.03.26

AI, India, and the future of service-led growth

Raghuram Rajan discusses how India's economy grew through services exports, why that model may be more resilient to AI than critics assume, and what policymakers need to get right on human capital, universities, and digital access to stay ahead.

Macroeconomics & Growth

Raghuram Rajan Oliver Hanney Deena Mousa

Published

10.03.26

Malaria is not just a health crisis, it is an economic crisis

Eradicating malaria could deliver much larger economic gains in sub-Saharan Africa than previously believed. The new generation of malaria vaccines provides a highly cost-effective way to realise these benefits.

Macroeconomics & Growth

Minki Kim

Published

10.03.26

Five reasons growth didn’t translate to well-being in Malaysia

In recent decades, Malaysia achieved rapid inclusive growth, yet focus group discussions with Malaysian citizens across the country have reported stagnating living standards and rising dissatisfaction. This disconnect reflects pressures not captured ...

Macroeconomics & Growth

M Niaz Asadullah Monica Biradavolu Vijayendra Rao Kenneth Simler

Published

11.03.26

Special Economic Zones: Why they succeed in some countries – and fail in others

Special Economic Zones can raise formal employment and wages in the right conditions, but without strong complementary policies such as education, infrastructure and trade openness, they are unlikely to deliver sustained economic growth.

Macroeconomics & Growth

Tevin Tafese Alexander Rothenberg

Published

16.02.26

Industrial Development: Service-Led Growth

Macroeconomics & Growth

Marco Sanfilippo Matthew Schwartzman Verena Wiedemann

11.02.26

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