Macroeconomics & Growth

The global environment for development has changed, so development policies should change too. This podcast looks back at predictions from 2018, and discusses what the current geopolitical situation means for future growth policy.

What is the problem with relying exclusively on rigorous evidence? Is economic growth essential for human well-being?

The internet’s impact on developing countries has been profound, though uneven. Policy will play a crucial role in ensuring that the gains from connectivity are widely shared, and governments must invest in infrastructure and promote digital literacy.

Members of the 'Network of Chief Economists of Development Agencies and Finance Institutes' explore how we can unlock progress on the big issues for global development in 2025.

Evidence from cash transfers at scale in Kenya suggests that demand-side policies or stimulus may be very effective at raising output without creating inflationary pressure when there is a lot of ‘slack’ in the economy.

Evidence from Kenya shows that small firms have a lot of ‘slack’, i.e. they could produce substantially more output without having to hire additional workers, buy additional machines, or raise prices, simply by reducing their idle time. Why is slack ...

Little is known about the contribution of place-based policies in promoting economic development in emerging and developing countries. Through what channels do these policies, such as Special Economic Zones in India, promote development, if at all? D...

Despite the relatively well-implemented and coordinated macroeconomic policy in sub-Saharan Africa, governments still face debt overhangs, adverse human capital effects due to lost years of learning, and revenue mobilisation challenges.

Income differences between high- and low-income countries reflect differences in technology adoption and skill endowments. Ensuring the right worker finds the right job - improving worker-job matching – can play an important role in realising the gains of technology and endowment upgrading.