development-economics

The conventional wisdom about small and medium enterprises in developing countries sounds reasonable enough: build more fiber optic cables, expand mobile coverage, launch digital literacy campaigns, and eventually SMEs will adopt technology. I’ve watched this supply-side playbook unfold across sub-Saharan Africa for years, with mixed results at best. But new research from Ethiopia’s Amhara region…

This article develops and tests a long-run growth proposition derived from the Economics of Belonging. Its central thesis is that domestic saving determines the scale of accumulation, but sustained access to the manufactured consumption of the global middle class determines whether that accumulation remains technologically valid. Such access can arise through a broad domestic middle class or thro…

This blog post examines a recent University of Mannheim study, produced with economists from the European Central Bank, that warns […]

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Published online: 05 September 2026; doi:10.1057/s41599-026-08941-y Reassessing global trade and welfare impacts of EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism in developing countries: a structural quantitative model

This is a submission for Weekend Challenge: Generosity Edition What I Built LendingChain is a decentralized, zero-interest micro-lending platform built on Solana Devnet to celebrate the UN International Day of Charity. It connects socially conscious global lenders with grassroots entrepreneurs in emerging economies—specifically focusing on clean energy, sustainable agriculture, indigenous women-l…

The development of economic activities in urban areas demonstrates highly rapid dynamics, particularly in developing cities such as Bandar Lampung. The growth of the trade, service, industrial, and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sectors has led to changes in land-use patterns and increased pressure on the environment. The unplanned distribution of economic activities may generate vari…

Publication date: December 2026 Source: Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Volume 233 Author(s): Leo Schmallenbach, Karin Hoisl

Lan Xiaohuan is a professor of economics at China Europe International Business School. His book, How China Works: An Introduction to China’s State-led Economic Development, has sold millions of copies in China and has been translated into multiple languages. Here, he discusses the economic realities behind China’s record trade surplus, the case for a stronger social safety net, and how public da…

IntroductionAgriculture remains a vital sector for economic development and food security in MENA countries, yet it faces increasing challenges from climate change. At the same time, economic diversification and renewable energy development may offer opportunities to enhance agricultural performance. This study examines the relationships among agricultural value added, economic diversification, c…

One man's refusal to sell is exposing the hidden machinery behind Big Tech's land grab in rural America.

A new book co-written by a University of Illinois expert who studies development and governance explores the "state-centric persistence" of poor citizens of the Global South in their individual pursuit of benefits from government-run social welfare programs.

Remote work could offer Gazans a path to income and economic recovery—but only if access to electricity, connectivity, and equipment improves. The post What it will take to rebuild Gaza’s remote-work sector appeared first on Atlantic Council .

Calling All Cloud Providers: Let’s Build a Sustainable Funding Model for Open Source Open source powers an enormous part of the modern internet. Apache HTTP Server, Linux, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, Python, NGINX, and thousands of other projects form the foundation of the applications and infrastructure that run on cloud platforms. Yet a clear economic disconnect remains: cloud providers generate bi…

Many startups confuse scalability with suitability. Scalability asks whether an idea can grow. Suitability asks whether it should grow in its present form—and whether it fits the people, institutions and social realities on which its survival depends.

Swetangi Ranjan, WBNUJS, Kolkata. ABSTRACT In this era of Globalization, economic growth is seen as the very primary indicator of a Country’s growth and development. India’s post-liberalization economic growth has been celebrated at the global level because of increasing upward ascent and rapid growth and integration into the global economy. Still, beneath the aggregate success stories of India, …

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Published online: 29 August 2026; doi:10.1057/s41599-026-08837-x Revisiting the nexus between digital inclusive finance and rural revitalization: New evidence from Chinese municipal data

_Jurnal Perspektif Pembangunan Daerah (Jurnal Pradah)_ 3 (1):14-25. 2026Women-owned microenterprises constitute a substantial share of MSME activity in Central Java, Indonesia, yet locally grounded evidence on women entrepreneurs’ digital literacy and their online business experiences remains limited. This study examines perceived digital proficiency profiles, platform use patterns, and reported …

By: Maakwe Cumanzala, Anyway Chingwete, and Karen Kaunda These three numbers from Afrobarometer surveys help explain why many across Africa are struggling with rising costs, despite the rosy economic headlines. The post Why Africa’s economic growth isn’t reaching many households appeared first on Good Authority .

Apply for funding to support research that can help develop new measurements of the return on investments in research and development (R&D). You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. ESRC