Not Even Jerome Powell Gets What’s Up With the Bond Market
You’re in good company if you can’t figure out why U.S. Treasury yields are tumbling. Jerome Powell isn’t sure either. Bonds have relentlessly rallied for months, even as inflation spikes
Young changemakers for circular innovation
• 10 new cities join the World Economic Forum’s latest cohort of Circular Shapers, an initiative leveraging grassroots change to transform cities into centres of circular economy innovation. • This
Coal Mining and Indigenous Communities in India
Anti-mining protests by Adivasis, India’s indigenous communities, have in recent years drawn considerable attention. In many places across India’s mining tracts, Adivasis have been battling to protect their homes and local
Fraught G20 meeting highlights divisions
G20 environment ministers in Naples, Italy, concluded a “hard-fought summit” yesterday, reports the Financial Times, which “at times appeared to be on the brink of disintegrating”. The newspaper continues: “In the
Solar Power Buildout Would Generate Billions in Economic Benefits
Published last week in collaboration with the Initiative for Energy Justice and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, the report outlines the benefits of a proposal to offer solar power to 30-million homes
Why has Cuba exploded in protests?
Although she did not take part in the historic protests that rocked the entire island of Cuba on Sunday, Caridad Montes, 50, says she understands why they took place. “It’s
Europe’s elderly care problem
“You could see what was coming… and it was like your worst nightmare. Because you felt like, oh my God, I’ve never seen anything like this before,” says Eileen Chubb,
Only 2% of the pandemic recovery goes to clean energy
The huge amount of money poured into the pandemic recovery—around $16 trillion, by the latest count—could have helped launch the world on a path to cut emissions quickly enough to
Biden is targeting non-compete agreements with an executive order.
Workers of all stripes—from brewers to chefs to fast-food employees—are subject to non-compete agreements, which can restrict their ability to find new jobs or start their own businesses. The Biden
Slowing economic recovery in China is a warning sign
China’s V-shaped economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is slowing, sending a warning to the rest of world about how durable their own recoveries will prove to be. The changing
South Sudan Wants to Build a New Capital in a Former Rhino Sanctuary
Despite being only 10 years old, South Sudan has already been beset by economic challenges, bitter disputes with its neighbours and the remnants of a five-year civil war that claimed almost 400,000 lives. The
A $100 billion promise holds the Paris Agreement together. Now, it’s coming apart.
For decades, rich and poor countries were trapped in a stalemate over how to deal with the carbon-dioxide coated, rapidly overheating planet. The United States and other developed countries —
Why China wants to tame its new tech giants
Maximilian Mayer thinks being among China’s richest people may not be an advantage these days. The global technology and China expert at Cologne University is convinced the country’s political leadership
Why India’s cryptocurrency boom is problematic
Indian investors are flocking to cryptocurrency like never before and the trend could be a dangerous one. Indians had parked nearly $6.6 billion in cryptocurrency until May this year, as compared
TikTok strike highlights issues of compensation and race in the creator economy
On TikTok, when Megan Thee Stallion drops a new song, a dedicated dance trend is not far behind. But that’s not what happened after the June release of her song
Funding net-zero could cost UK less than pandemic
There is widespread coverage across the UK newspapers of the latest annual report by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), in which the UK fiscal watchdog focuses on both the
Sudden Deaths Reported in Canada Heatwave
‘This Is the Climate Emergency’: Dozens of Sudden Deaths Reported as Canada Heat Hits Record 121°F Dozens of sudden-death calls that Vancouver authorities have received this week are believed to be
Fall in life expectancy exposes UK government’s ‘levelling up’ lies
For a few hours on Wednesday 30 June 2021, a report released by University College London’s Institute of Health Equity hit the headlines. “‘Jaw-dropping’ fall in life expectancy in poor
Forced labour in the solar supply chain
The recent G-7 summit reaffirmed two priorities of leading democratic nations: addressing climate change and combating forced labor. Based on a new report examining evidence that links solar panel manufacturing to forced labor
Economics challenges for China’s Communist Party at 100
Shenzhen, China – Private education companies that provide extracurricular lessons to legions of Chinese children are in the crosshairs of the government, as officials seek to ease pressure on students and
The Klarna Conundrum
Whether you use Klarna all the time or have barely heard of it, it’s time to start paying attention: the buy-now-pay-later app has just become the biggest private fintech company
Global South countries come together
The Summit brings together Global South governments, political leaders, healthcare workers and vaccine manufacturers from more than twenty countries and follows criticism of the G7’s plan by U.N. aid chief
Brexit at 5: Economic arguments still a small concern
It’s been five years since the UK’s Brexit vote. The vote appalled those who saw it as economic self-sabotage. But those in favour of leaving were not swayed by economic
UK will miss climate goals by without new policies
The UK government has once again failed to come forward with sufficient policies to meet the ambition of its climate goals, according to the Climate Change Committee (CCC). Across nearly
Surging inflation in Nigeria fuels crime wave – World Bank
Surging inflation is undermining the recovery of Africa’s biggest economy, pushing 7 million Nigerians into poverty and encouraging criminality as rising prices deplete already meager incomes, according to the World
G7 Tax Reform for the 1%—Not the 99%
Despite the recent G7 agreement on corporate taxation, global leadership requires going beyond national interests to ensure that all countries have sufficient resources to develop healthier post-pandemic economies. This will
Full Employment Prioritised by Biden
Full employment is being pursued by Biden, despite repeated consultation will famously neoliberal Larry Summers. James Galbraith and Ryan Grim sit down to discuss what this means for US economic
GDP Numbers Not What They Seem
GDP growth appears positive The World Bank has added its voice to those predicting the global economy will recover faster from the pandemic than previously thought. According to its latest report,
How bankruptcy lets oil companies evade cleanup
How bankruptcy lets oil and gas companies evade cleanup rules. A battle over who is responsible for cleaning up hundreds of oil and gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico
Child labour on the rise for the first time since 2000
Child labour has increased to 160 million – the first rise in two decades – and that number could swell by millions more because of the effects of the coronavirus
G7 Tax Clampdown & the End of Hyper-Globalization
The G7 tax agreement on global corporations still needs formal approval from a wider set of countries, and there remain many details to be worked out for it to be
UK Housing market on fire, BofE Chief warns
The UK housing market is “on fire” thanks to the extension of government tax breaks for homebuyers and increased demand from richer households with more savings following coronavirus lockdowns, the
What Did The Luddites Get Right?
Gavin Mueller’s “Why You Should be Breaking Things at Work” makes a persuasive case for the Luddites. So why have so many people—including your favorite Communist philosophers—insisted that they were
An Exodus of Women From The Workforce.
As women around the world celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, a startling reality sunk in – there has been an exodus of women from the workforce. Forty-seven million
CEO Lobbying To End Unemployment Benefits
Restaurant lobbying groups and CEO lobbying contributed to many of the GOP governors now ending pandemic unemployment benefits. The governors parroted talking points pushed by some of their past donors:
New EU Carbon Tax – Choosing the right rate
How can the EU set a carbon tax at a rate that contributes to net zero? The European Commission is holding a meeting in June that is, on the face
Economics has a race problem
The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020 sparked outrage across the world. The Black Lives Matter protests that followed brought the issues
Free Markets: Capitalism and Darwinism Don’t Mix
By Matthew Barad. Darwinism has been the foundation of the capitalism of free markets. Markets—especially the capitalist sort—are frequently imagined as ecosystems. Corporations, like wolves, clams, or algae, are locked
Circular Economy for 2050 Spain
Spain aims to achieve a circular and carbon-neutral economy by 2050, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced. By 2050, Spain will be “more arid and unpredictable”, as 70% of its territory
Another IMF Loan Feared For Kenya
Kenya is suffering from a financial crisis, and the government has invited the IMF back. But those who survived the IMF and World Bank Structural Adjustment Programmes of the ’80s
Everyone Is Funding Oxygen. This Is a Problem.
As the second wave of COVID-19 rages through the country, media and global donor attention is focused on the supply of oxygen in its various forms – even as the
What the UK can teach the world about engaging with China
Covid-19 fundamentally altered the perception that the UK has of China. People in London, Edinburgh, or Belfast woke up to the reality that decisions made by a government thousands of
Research reveals a pay gap for LGBTQ workers and the cost of exclusion
The wage gaps that exist between men and women and between white and black people have received a lot of attention in recent years. But there’s another wage gap that
Study Shows ‘Intentional Policy Decisions’—Not Abstract Market Forces—to Blame for Wage Stagnation
A new report published Thursday by the Economic Policy Institute details how wage stagnation in the U.S. is not due abstract forces like technological advances and globalization, but the result
How the growing identity economy is reshaping the future of work
People no longer work just to put food on the table. In addition to funding basic needs, they work with a vision of self-fulfilment, purpose, and growth. They expect their
The UK government is using ‘levelling up’ to hide a crackdown on political dissent
Every British prime minister has a set of flagship policies that defines their legacy in office. For Margaret Thatcher, it was privatisation and deregulation. For Tony Blair, it was investment
Why Soaring Stocks Could Be Bad News For The Economy
While it’s had some ups and downs, the stock market has soared to historic heights in recent years. For many, that’s great news: It’s a sign the economy and their
Increasing droughts will drive ‘billions’ in economic losses in Europe
A new study, published in Nature Climate Change, finds that droughts currently drive around €9bn in annual economic losses across the EU and UK – mainly from damage to the
Additional 230 Million Indians Fell Below Poverty Line Due to the Pandemic
At a time when the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging India, a report prepared by the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University (APU) has highlighted
Slow Electric Vehicle Charging Is Making Drivers Switch Back to Gas
What will it take to get people to buy electric vehicles? It is one of the biggest questions facing the United States these days as we hope to make some
The secret to happy, healthy homes? Universal childcare
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, people in power—the primarily white male business leaders and policymakers who set the standards, policies, and cultural norms for the rest of us—didn’t think much
International cooperation and the era of digital currency growth
The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent economic crisis have indelibly altered our daily lives. One of the profound changes has been the acceleration in the shift towards digital payments, as customers avoided cash
France and Germany back US on 21% minimum corporate tax proposal
German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire have been discussing Europe’s future. A minimum corporate tax rate may well play a role in that. US
Amid Brazil’s COVID chaos, socialist Marica forges different path
Located just 60km from Rio de Janeiro, Marica has modelled itself into a very different city, paying residents a universal basic income, using its own digital currency and procuring its
Cooperation not competition: Best for Britain relaunches alongside polling optimism
Best of Britain, the UK’s cross-party advocacy group upholding internationalist values, has relaunched to champion a closer relationship with Europe and the world. Monday’s relaunch event was initiated alongside a
No More Global Debt Inequalities
Debt has historically been central to the struggle for international and intersectional justice. The unequal and exploitative experiences of debt have become more pervasive over the past decades, and COVID-19
In Saudi Arabia, women are turning to business as a form of ‘quiet activism’
Saudi women are highly educated and control much of the wealth in the country. The kingdom has been advocating for female entrepreneurship in its National Development Plans for more than
UN, US climate envoys launch global finance industry push
United Nations climate envoy Mark Carney and his United States peer John Kerry have announced a new plan to boost efforts by the financial system to help move the global
China and US pledge climate change commitment
China and the US have published a joint statement saying they are committed to working together and with other countries on tackling climate change, report a variety of news outlets
Vaccine jobs boom doesn’t match all skill sets
Stephen Defilippis, a 43-year old civil engineer from New Orleans, said he can’t find open jobs in his field or experience level, only for senior engineers or engineer interns. Now
The pandemic recovery needs to be measured in well-being—not just GDP
Once a country’s economy reaches a certain level of wealth, gross domestic product—which puts a single dollar value on a country’s total economic output—is no longer a good measure of
China Becomes First Major Economy to Issue Digital Currency
The Chinese government has begun to issue blockchain-powered digital currency to its citizens. The Wall Street Journal reports that 750,000 recipients have been determined by a lottery system and can already spend their digital Yuan in
How migrants in the Gulf are fighting discrimination during the pandemic
Like millions before him, Manoj migrated from the southwestern Indian state of Kerala to the Gulf in search of work in 2019. He found a job at a construction company
An Alternative Economy of Care in Portland
Gabriel Baron first heard about Crisis Kitchen through a call for support he saw on Facebook. The mutual aid group was providing free meals around Portland, Oregon, to combat food
In India’s informal economy, crores of women face gender bias and insecurity
Over the last two decades, Rehana*, 42, has been working on improving her tailoring skills, learning to cut, sew, and recently, design and stitch salwar suits for boutiques and individual
Economic boom in Tangier leaves a few winners and many losers
Anass Bouzid has long held the dream of emigrating to Germany. He’d love to go to Frankfurt, because the German financial hub is where some of his family live, he
NAACP Report: Fossil Fuel Industry Uses Deception to Conceal Damage to BIPOC Communities
The fossil fuel industry continues to use a long list of deceptive tactics to conceal environmental destruction that harms Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities. That’s the
A circular economy for textiles to design out waste and pollution
Europe has an opportunity to use the textiles strategy, due to be published this year, to build on its history of textile manufacturing and switch to a more sustainable industry,
A Year Since the Lockdown, Women Migrant Workers Remain Unrecognised
It has been a year since a poorly planned and violently implemented lockdown led to the forced displacement of migrant workers from our cities. Countless stories of violence, hunger, death
Brazilians thrown back into poverty as COVID aid dries up
Tatiana Araujo de Sirqueira, a 33-year-old single mother of six, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are almost neighbours, but they inhabit different universes. Sirqueira lives by a landfill less than
Aid millions wasted in Lebanese currency collapse
Millions of dollars in aid to Lebanon are being lost in currency exchange as inflation soars out of control, but internal UN documents and interviews with officials suggest that fixing
UK: Food banks outnumber McDonald’s restaurants
More people than ever in the United Kingdom are suffering from food poverty, with even working families turning to charities for help, aid agencies say. In a damning statistic issued
European recovery sidelines the young generation
Despite being the most affected group by the coronavirus-induced crisis, young Europeans feel increasingly left out from the plans for post-pandemic recovery. Experts call for targeted measures to support them
Deforestation: The $53bn threat to agri-businesses
Global businesses sourcing commodities such as cattle, soybeans or rubber stand to lose some $53 billion due to deforestation unless they take action. In a survey of more than 500
Minimum wage policies offer a lesson for advancement of farming
It is not the case that any minimum wage is bad. Equally true, it is not the case that any biofuels demand is bad. Empirical evidence finds that a set
Global middle class shrinks for first time since 1990s
The global middle class shrank for the first time in decades last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with almost two-thirds of households in developing economies reporting they suffered a
Analysis: UK is now halfway to meeting its ‘net-zero emissions’ target
The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 were 51% below 1990 levels, according to new Carbon Brief analysis. This means the UK is now halfway to meeting its target of
New Zealand’s central bank is being asked to tackle a housing crisis
The duties of a central bank are ever expanding: Lender of last resort, financial regulator, macroeconomic manager… affordable housing agency? That’s the case now in New Zealand, where prime minister
Dirty coal to hydrogen: Trial aims for clean-energy solution
A Japanese-Australian venture has begun producing hydrogen from brown coal in a 500 million Australian dollars ($390m) pilot project that aims to show liquefied hydrogen can be produced commercially and
Measuring Equity Through City Trees
The term “urban forest” may sound like an oxymoron. When most of us think about forests, we may picture vast expanses of tall trunks and dappled sunlight filtering through the
Gendered Land: Sri Lankan Women Battle Unequal Access to Resources
Only 10 countries in the world offer full legal protections to women, according to the “Women, Business and the Law 2021” report, published recently by the World Bank. Sri Lanka scores just 65.5
Bangladesh: Women are prominent in politics and the workforce – but many lack decision-making powers
In a pandemic stricken world where the economy is struggling and many human achievements have gone in reverse, the United Nations has set “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future
Ensuring fair working conditions in the online talent platform economy
Online talent platform work has experienced rapid growth in recent years and been embraced by individuals and businesses alike. While working via an online platform does not constitute a new
Mental health crisis a threat to the Philippine economy
The coronavirus sent Paul Dalmacio, 40, into a busy intensive care unit in Manila for 10 days. The severity of his case would keep him in the hospital for two months.
Pandemic “doom shopping” is clogging up shipping ports. That means a lot of food destined for export is getting stuck.
Ocean carriers are making it more difficult and costly to ship American food exports. Industry groups want federal regulators to clamp down on “unreasonable, unjust practices.” U.S. exporters are struggling
Europe Reduces Waste by Guaranteeing the Right to Repair
Roman Hottgenroth is surrounded by lamps, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. Computers, smartphones, and TV receivers are piled high on tin shelves behind him. Some washing machines rattles loudly in test
Soft drinks industry aims for 100% recycled or renewable plastic by 2030
European soft drink makers unveiled their new vision for 2030 on Monday (22 February), announcing plans to reach 100% recycled or renewable materials in plastic bottles by the end of
How new technology is helping to identify human rights abuses in the seafood industry
Every year, the U.S. imports billions of dollars worth of seafood from countries that may be using forced labor on distant water fishing vessels. A growing cadre of tech companies
EU takes step to help ‘gig’ economy workers
The European Commission on Wednesday launched a public consultation to look into the legal employment status and conditions of gig economy workers. It is the bloc’s first step aimed at improving the rights
Worker-Owned Cooperatives Are Creating Their Own Funding Networks
When Princess Robinson takes her son to school at 8 o’clock in the morning, there’s always a line of people waiting to buy their morning tamales and coffee from a
A sky-high tariff on smartphones is keeping people offline in Zimbabwe
Despite experiencing substantial growth in internet users in the last decade, Zimbabwe, a country of 14.7 million, still suffers from underutilized mobile internet capacity and low smartphone penetration, according to the latest annual
Nutri-Gardening Initiative Promises Better Nutrition for Tribal Women Farmers
Khunta, one of the remote blocks of North Odisha’s Mayurbhanj, is yet to overcome malnutrition. For years, rain-fed agriculture and collection of forest produce constituted a major source of livelihood
Seattle Bets on Equitable Development
In most U.S. cities, planning for growth often looks like luxury apartments and corporate incentives, with minimal consideration for how those developments will affect the people already living and working
Côte d’Ivoire’s informal economy has come online and the government’s not happy
Entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire are circumventing high retail rents and government bureaucracy to start businesses online, resulting in a thriving informal digital economy. From baby clothes to handmade jewelry, small
Amsterdam ousts London as Europe’s top share hub, taking trading back to where it all began
Amsterdam has usurped London to become Europe’s biggest hub for trading shares. It is quite a shift for a city that was fifth behind Paris, Frankfurt and Milan only two months ago,
Spending on green economic stimulus is slowly rising, study finds
Huge amounts of post-pandemic stimulus packages are mostly failing to support action to tackle climate change or halt the loss of biodiversity, but the amount of green spending is slowly
IEA: India is on ‘cusp of a solar-powered revolution’
India is entering a “solar-powered revolution” that will see it edge out coal as the nation’s top electricity source, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Solar power currently makes
Why France’s new ‘repairability index’ is a big deal
Our electronic devices take a serious environmental toll, and one of the best ways to mitigate that is to use them for as long as possible before replacing them. But
Rainbow Trout Aquaculture in Nepal: Promise Amid Shocks
The 2015 Gorkha earthquake was a singular natural disaster that has defined Nepal’s economic development in the latter half of the 2010s. Hit particularly hard by the earthquake was the
Returning to the Roots of Community Resilience in Hawai‘i
“There are four things you should know,” says David Fuertes to the youths he mentors. “You should know your origins, because your ancestors have paved the way. You should know
Risk‑Taking Might Be Determined by Our DNA, Finds Study
Some people are more predisposed to gambling large sums, or diving off a cliff, or even starting their own business in a free-falling economy. And that tendency toward risk-taking might
‘Nature is our home’: New UK report urges big economic rethink
Nations will have to rethink economic growth as a measure of success if they want to make good on pledges to halt the destruction of the natural world, according to
‘Starting from zero’: In Greece, women refugees forge new careers
Athens, Greece – In recent years, Greece has become a focal point for refugees into the European Union, but many of the women who have arrived are portrayed by the media
South Korea’s Vision for a More Inclusive Pandemic Recovery
The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe has left worsening inequality in its wake. The gap between the “haves” and the “have nots,” which was widening before the pandemic, has further
Circular economy can cut CO2 emissions by 39%: study
Switching to a circular economy could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 39% and ease pressure on virgin materials by 28%, according to the Circularity Gap Report, published on Tuesday (26 January).
Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi are among the world’s worst hit by climate change
Five African countries: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Sudan, and Niger, are among the world’s top 10 nations to be the worst affected by climate change through disruptions to productivity in
The IMF’s austerity drive comes for the Central Bank of Ecuador
The IMF moves forward with its austerity and deregulation agenda for Ecuador. The next commitment for the South American country is so-called “Central Bank independence,” which is will preventing its
Japan’s Struggling Single Mothers Expose the Flaws of Womenomics
Under Japan’s women’s advancement strategy, dubbed “womenomics,” a record number of women joined the labor force to help fill the country’s chronic labor shortage and resuscitate the sluggish economy. Amid
China’s economy grew in 2020, but only the rich are “revenge spending”
China today reported 2.3% growth in GDP last year, making it the first and probably only major country whose economy expanded in 2020. But a marked decrease in consumer spending,
Facing aggressive pushback, Amazon workers to vote on forming the company’s first American union
For years, Amazon employees have fought for unions and been quashed by their powerful employer. At last, they are poised to succeed. On Friday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB),
‘Economically feasible’: New study maps how China could shift from coal to green energy in the 2020s
China must electrify as much of its economy as possible and generate almost all its electricity from zero carbon sources to meet its 2060 carbon neutrality goal, according to joint
Cooperation and Chocolate: The Story of One Colombian Village’s Quest for Peace
When it’s time for harvest, Germán Graciano Posso, a 38-year-old Colombian farmer, leaves his village, La Florencita, with a group of co-workers and heads into the hills where the cacao
Inside the US government’s effort to start measuring the space economy
Word came down to the Bureau of Economic Analysis in 2019: We’d like you to measure the American space economy, please. The task fell into the capable hands of Tina
Homemaker’s Work in Landmark Judgment, Awards Additional Rs. 11.2 Lakhs
This week, India’s Supreme Court delivered a crucial judgment that will progressively inform our notions of homemakers’ work, sacrifice, and subsequently the economic value of both. In an insurance dispute
Israel vaccinates 1 million Israelis against coronavirus, and zero Palestinians
Israel has achieved the startling feat of being the fastest country to administer coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines. But as we would expect, the beneficiaries have been exclusively its own citizens, not the several million Palestinians
UK government won’t block first deep coal mine in three decades
Despite pressure from green groups, the UK Government has said it will not intervene in a county council’s decision to approve a deep coal mine – the first facility of
Returning ‘heroes’: Filipino migrant workers met with a devastated economy
Filipino healthcare workers have found themselves thrust to the frontlines of the pandemic to care for the most vulnerable across the globe. The Philippines is one of the world’s leading
Libya starts using new exchange rate as economy struggles
The Central Bank of Libya on Sunday introduced a new unified exchange rate agreed last month after years of division between rival branches based on opposing sides of the front
African free trade bloc opens for business, but challenges remain
African countries began officially trading under a new continent-wide free trade area on Friday (1 January), after months of delays caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. But experts view the
The Less Equal We Become, the Less We Trust Science
In mid November, South Dakota emergency room nurse Jodi Doering tweeted her experience of caring for dying patients. Many, she said, were denying the existence of COVID-19 until their final breaths. Their last dying
What natural disasters cost the global economy in 2020
Covid-19 is clearly the crisis that defined 2020, but millions of people were forced to grapple with natural disasters alongside the pandemic. A Biblical deluge of record-breaking Atlantic hurricanes, devastating
China to overtake US as largest global economy by 2028: report
The coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout will help China rise past the US to become the world’s largest economy, a new report shows. Beijing is now expected to overtake the
Product design policy will be key to circular economy, EU says
As the European Union seeks to transition to a ‘circular economy’, the policy focus in 2021 will turn to products: how they are designed, and why so many seem to
No trickle-down: Tax cuts for rich fuel inequality, study finds
Tax cuts for rich people breed inequality without providing much of a boon to anyone else, according to a study of the advanced world that could add to the case
A quiet crisis: As the economy fractures, violence soars for Afghan women
Fatima lay in bed at the internal medicine ward at the bustling Mirwais Hospital in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar – a black scarf draped over her head and
IMF austerity is strangling Ecuador – again.
15 December should be a turning point in the IMF’s relationship to the people of Ecuador: a chance for reflection, a fresh start in a new year, an opportunity to
One in ten European workers at risk of poverty, study says
In-work poverty increased over the last decade in most European countries, with around 12% of workers at risk of poverty, according to the latest report by the European Trade Union
Eye-popping wage report charts 40 years of worsening income inequality as the top 1% thrive
Wage inequality is getting worse, according to new data from the Social Security Administration, which shows a steady trickle-up effect in worker income during every period for the last four
UNEP: Net-zero pledges provide an ‘opening’ to close growing emissions ‘gap’
The recent net-zero pledges by major emitting countries and the potential for a “green recovery” from the Covid-19 pandemic “presents the opening” for the world to close the growing “gap”
Fast-food giants gobbled up $1 billion in federal aid for small businesses
Franchisees with hundreds of restaurants flew under the radar, in one case collecting $60 million in PPP loans. Relief grants meant to buoy small businesses at the onset of the
UK plans to slash carbon emissions 68% by 2030 – how banking, building and borrowing can help
For those conscious of the growing climate crisis and the perilous economic situation, the path out of the coronavirus recession looks like a tightrope. On one side, the urgent need
Spain is working on a national shift to a four-day workweek
The four-day week is starting to move from fantasy to the mainstream: Unilever, the massive corporation that owns brands such as Dove and Ben and Jerry’s, is now testing a shorter
Amazon Workers Are Organizing a Global Struggle
In recent weeks, dizzying statistics have circulated on social media about Amazon’s pandemic-era boom and the obscene wealth accrued by its CEO, and Earth’s richest man, Jeff Bezos. The company reported
Eco India: An eco-tourism model that focuses on forest conservation and building the local economy
In one of the India’s privately-owned forest reserves, an effort to use the small patch of forest land to connect forest land to conservation with livelihood.
UK government’s foreign aid cuts put girls’ education at risk
The UK government’s 2020 spending review includes a cut in international aid, from 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5%. My research shows that this will have severe effects on
Grassroots aid grows in middle-income Chile, as COVID-19 drives new needs
Up and down the length of Chile, people are turning to soup kitchens for their hunger needs as the coronavirus pandemic broadens inequality after lockdown measures shuttered the informal economy
Oil-rich Kuwait faces looming debt crisis
When Kuwait emerged from a months-long coronavirus lockdown, hundreds of Kuwaitis flocked to reopened stores, the lines clogging malls, snaking through hallways and spilling onto sidewalks. But unlike much of
India Is the Only G20 Nation on Track to Meet Paris Agreement’s 2°C Goal: Report
India is the only “2°C compatible” country out of all the G20 nations, including the US, Brazil, Australia and several EU countries, a new report has found. The Paris Agreement, which came
Green Flamingo: Portugal hopes to export green hydrogen to EU
Thanks to Portugal’s high sun exposure, the nation has the potential to produce green hydrogen for Europe. The EU-backed Green Flamingo initiative may enable it to ship the green gas
In storm-hit Honduras, a climate crisis drives needs and fuels migration
As Honduras endures its second major hurricane in as many weeks, international aid agencies and local volunteer groups are scrambling the best responses they can to assist people displaced by
Zimbabwe’s odious debts
Civil society organisations have called for an audit of Zimbabwe’s national debt, as inequality and poverty grasp the economy. This comes at a time the World Bank projects further GDP
China to overtake 56 nations by 2025 in per capita income surge
China’s surging economy is set to overtake 56 countries in the world’s per-capita income rankings during the quarter-century through 2025, the International Monetary Fund projects. By that date, China will
Ancient band of shepherds taking on NATO land grab in Montenegro
While all eyes were focused on elections in the US, few noticed that a new government was to be sworn in in Montenegro. Shepherds and villagers of the Sinjajevina-Durmitor mountain
Deutsche Bank says tax remote workers to rebuild COVID economy
The COVID-19 crisis is worsening inequality around the world as people fortunate enough to work remotely continue to earn a pay cheque while millions of others lose their livelihoods or risk their
Government funds five ‘state of the art’ circular economy R&D centres
Innovation centres in London, Loughborough and Exeter secure £22.5m to develop waste-cutting techniques for textiles, metals, electronics, construction and chemicals. Several state-of-the-art circular economy research and innovation centres are to
In Brazil, Women Candidates Find Strength in Numbers
On Nov. 15, Brazilians will head to the polls for the first round of municipal elections. In the city of Rio de Janeiro, voters who choose the candidate identified by
Universal income gains traction on the right
When structural economic change, a global pandemic and “culture wars” collide, the effects are potentially transformative. Leftists and libertarians share an interest in new solutions, but not where they should
Global food system emissions alone threaten warming beyond 1.5°C – but we can act now to stop it
How people grow food and the way we use the land is an important, though often overlooked, contributor to climate change. While most people recognise the role of burning fossil
Unleashing innovation: understanding the UK’s science spending boost
Britain has long considered itself a powerhouse for science and technology. It takes pride in being the place where the structure of DNA was discovered, where the jet engine and
India’s Women Bear the Burden of Unpaid Work – With Costs to Themselves and the Economy
India’s first-ever time use survey finds that women continue to do over one more hour of work every day than men. The report highlights the rampant “time poverty” experienced by women when
As the EU votes to ‘massacre nature’, rainforest communities find a trailblazing way to protect it
The EU parliament came under fire recently for approving a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that critics say will “massacre nature”. But after the EU voted to sign nature’s “death sentence”, rainforest communities
Indian pharma is being squeezed – and it’s bad news for drug access in developing countries
India’s pharmaceutical industry is renowned for selling medicines to the world at reasonable prices, especially developing countries. This has helped Africa in its fight against HIV/Aids, for instance. Such endeavours have earned
Globally, Women’s Workforce Participation Has Not Increased in 25 Years: UN Report
Women’s participation in the workforce globally has remained stagnant for the past 25 years, and the pandemic threatens to set back the world to pre-1995 levels of gender inequality, a
Japan steps up climate ambition with 2050 net zero emissions goal
The Japanese government has said it will cut the country’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, in the latest sign of growing momentum on international climate action. Yoshihide Suga,
WEF: Pandemic accelerates dramatic pace of change in global jobs
The ‘future of work’ was already a major topic before the pandemic, with automation and technology rapidly changing the jobs market. That pace of change is now rising fast, according
South Asia Has a New Economic Leader. Will the World Take Note?
Bangladesh — the overcrowded, overpopulated flood-prone state that, founded in 1971, is barely older than the internet — is now one of the richest countries in South Asia. The region
Norway’s Supreme Court set to rule on whether the country can keep searching for new Arctic oil
Almost all of Norway’s electricity comes from hydropower and its domestic emissions are relatively low, meaning the country is often perceived as clean and sustainable. Yet this contrasts with the
Over half Europe’s small firms fear for survival, survey finds
Over half the small and medium-sized companies which together provide jobs for two-thirds of European workers fear for their survival in the coming 12 months, according to a survey released
Glaring skills gap risks undermining green recovery, businesses warn
The UK desperately needs a new low carbon skills strategy that embeds sustainability across the national curriculum, teacher training and, apprenticeships, as the glaring deficit in green skills is threatening…
Ecuador’s new loan program: a tale of two IMFs
In her speech opening this year’s Annual World Meetings, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned of the dangers of an uneven recovery and increasing inequality and talked of the need for
Spain Announces Plan to Close Its Corporate Gender Pay Gap
The Spanish government has passed two decrees on gender equality at the workplace in a bid to address the country’s gender pay gap. “From today, a man and a woman can no longer
Harnessing Food Waste to Empower Communities in Brazil
Take a dozen banana peels, wash them gently with a brush under running water, then chop them into small pieces. Next, blend the peels with five spoons of cacao and
The debt crisis looming for poor countries
A growing number of poor countries, some already in humanitarian crisis, will soon have to choose between servicing their lenders or helping their most vulnerable citizens, as the World Bank
We want green energy jobs, say North Sea oil and gas workers – what they need to make the leap
For the first time in history, the price of US oil turned negative in April 2020. While the oil and gas sector has faced downturns before, the collapse of demand during lockdowns
Unemployment: The biggest risk facing the world, survey shows
Unemployment is seen as the biggest worry over the next 10 years for business executives around the world, closely followed by concern about the spread of infectious diseases, according
Nasdaq’s CEO says bringing more people into capital markets is the way to create ‘inclusive capitalism’
Adena Friedman, CEO of the online stock exchange, argues that creating value for all stakeholders will ultimately create more value for investors. Nasdaq is committed to achieving “inclusive capitalism,”
Higher taxes, fairer society: UK survey shows desire for equality
Authors of new report call for radical change to economy, recognition of unpaid care work, usually done by women. People in the United Kingdom would be happy to pay higher
UN: Most Governments’ Responses To Covid19 Failed To Protect, Support Women
A new UN report tracking government responses to the global pandemic has found that most countries have failed to offer adequate protection and support to women and girls to help
Save Nature or Risk Economic Disaster, Global Leaders Tell Each Other
The international community hasn’t met any of the biodiversity targets it set a decade ago. The mass extinction of species will be catastrophic for economic development, global leaders warned as
Pandemic to create millions of ‘new poor’ in East Asia: World Bank
Up to 38 million people in East Asian and Pacific countries will be pushed into poverty by the coronavirus crisis, the World Bank has said. It will be the region’s
The cost of racial inequality is $16 trillion, new Citi report says
The cost to the U.S. economy of not closing racial gaps on wages, education, housing and investment runs to $16 trillion, according to a new estimate that frames a pivotal
Sri Lanka’s Ceylon tea workers live under a legacy of exploitation
The descendants of Indian Tamil tea plantation workers remain stuck at the bottom of Sri Lankan society. Many of them continue to work under harsh conditions for a meager daily
Richest 1% Of Global Population Causes Double CO2 Emissions As World’s Poorest 50%: Oxfam
Only 1% of the richest of the world’s population was found to be responsible for twice the amount of carbon dioxide emissions as the poorer half of the world between
Cambodia’s Microfinance Industry in Troubled Waters
Cambodia’s Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, amid claims that that overlending to poor borrowers, who can ill-afford to repay, has resulted in land seizures
Coop green investment bill blocked by government
The government’s refusal to support proposals to increase the spending power of cooperatives was a “missed opportunity” for the green recovery, according to the MP who promoted it. Labour MP
Global Community Has Failed to Meet 2020 Conservation Targets For the Second Consecutive Decade: UN Report
According to a UN report, the international community as a whole has failed to meet key conservation targets set for 2020, with individual countries, too, failing to successfully meet any
‘We were shocked’: RAND study uncovers massive income shift to the top 1%
Just how far has the working class been left behind by the winner-take-all economy? A new analysis by the RAND Corporation examines what rising inequality has cost Americans in lost
Flurry of corporate plastic announcements hints at a new normal for the circular economy
In what has been a bumper week for news stories on single-use plastics, edie explores how corporates are forging ahead with new collection and take-back schemes for recyclable packaging that
In the absence of the state, people are leading Beirut’s recovery
Recent events in Lebanon tell a story of interwoven crises, culminating in the explosion in Beirut on 4 August. To overcome the crisis in the long-term, recovery efforts must be
Guilt, Gender, and an Inclusive Recovery: A Lesson from Japan
Japan’s voluntary month-and-a-half shutdown of the economy in April due to COVID-19 has had a higher cost for women than men. A key reason: a “guilt gap” between women and
Study: Cleaner air could net the UK a £1.6bn economic boost
The UK economy could enjoy a clean air dividend of £1.6bn if World Health Organisation (WHO) targets for air quality were met, a major new report has calculated. The research,
How the Lebanese Diaspora Is Mobilizing Against Food Insecurity at Home
Lebanon is facing a major food crisis. Struck by an unprecedented economic meltdown, nationwide protests, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, more than 3.7 million people in the small Middle Eastern nation, which
In Uganda, rural women entrepreneurs are escaping poverty with teamwork and training
“If you have business and you have your own money you don’t suffer in your life. I can take my children to school, buy medicine when they are sick. I
South Africa healthcare workers protest, threaten strike
South African healthcare workers have protested against poor working conditions and urged the government to end corruption in the procurement of coronavirus personal protective equipment. The protesters gathered in Pretoria
Covid-19 pandemic likely to push 47 mn more women and girls into poverty
The Covid-9 pandemic will push 47 million more women and girls below the poverty line, reversing decades of progress to eradicate extreme poverty, according to new data of UN Women
China among nations likely to miss 2020 deadline for climate plans
Most nations including top emitter China are likely to miss a 2020 deadline to upgrade national plans for fighting global warming, according to the UN’s climate chief. Patricia Espinosa told
South Africa’s COVID relief fund dogged by delays and corruption
The South African government is investigating reports of large-scale “looting” of its $26 billion coronavirus rescue package, launched to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic on struggling households.
Domestic workers are the frontline of exploitation in Turkey
According to the Covid-19 report by IMECE Domestic Workers Union, a significant share of domestic workers have been laid off during the pandemic. Those who kept their jobs were forced
Germany launches first ‘green’ bonds
Germany on Monday (24 August) announced details of its first “green” bond placing, tapping financial markets to fund environmental projects for the first time. The finance ministry said it would
Half of young people want a job in the green economy, survey finds
Published on the eve of so-called Earth Overshoot Day, a survey of 1,000 people aged 18 to 34 found 50% wanted a job in the green economy. Earth Overshoot
Earth was 130 degrees this week. It will be much hotter one day.
As a heat wave roasted the western United States this week, temperatures in California’s Death Valley soared to a blistering 130 degrees Fahrenheit, marking the hottest temperature measured anywhere on Earth
Germany is set to trial a Universal Basic Income scheme
Germany is about to become the latest country to trial a universal basic income, starting a three-year study of how it affects the economy and recipients’ well-being. As part of
Women-led countries handled the coronavirus pandemic ‘systematically and significantly better’ than those run by men, study says
Countries with female leaders have handled the coronavirus pandemic “systematically and significantly better” than those run by men, according to a new research paper. A study of 194 countries by Supriya
Local groups step up to lead Beirut blast response
While attention has focused on promises of international aid from a France-led donor conference and a UN appeal, much of the initial help in the two weeks since a massive explosion
Campaigners Demand Court Shuts Down Ecuador’s Oil Pipelines After Spill
Communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon are calling for an end to “violence against Indigenous peoples and nature” as a trial into a devastating oil spill resumes today. The Kichwa and Shuar
Floating wind, captured mine heat, and net zero transport projects scoop government R&D funding
Latest round of UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI’s) Strength in Places Fund delivers boost to 17 projects across the UK, including pioneering clean tech developments Projects to develop a net
In post-blast Lebanon, farmers struggle as food shortages feared
Without money to plant, Lebanon’s farmers were already in deep trouble before last week’s explosion. Far from being the solution to the country’s food shortages, the agricultural sector that is
Galicia opens the way to a circular economy
Today, the Galician Regional Government informed the public about a new call for proposals directed at small and medium enterprises (SME’s) who want to turn their production processes into a
Nigeria’s female mechanics show how young African women can be empowered
Providing a bright future for young women in a male-dominated engineering sector requires a transformational effort. How can auto mechanics unlock their potential? “My friends and family used to laugh
Corporations Receiving Bailout Billions Have Laid Off Staff and Paid Investors
Companies bailed out with public money have paid shareholders billions of pounds in dividends while cutting tens of thousands of jobs, a VICE News investigation can reveal. Campaigners and commentators
Two-thirds of glacier ice in the Himalayas will be lost by 2100 if climate targets aren’t met
In the world of glaciology, the year 2007 would go down in history. It was the year a seemingly small error in a major international report heralded huge changes in
Coastal flooding will endanger millions
North-west Europe, including the UK, is among the hotspots facing a rising risk of flooding, along with places such as India and the Bay of Bengal, and south east
How wealth inequality is warping the world of philanthropy
1.2 trillion estimated to be sitting in private foundations right now, during the pandemic, is not necessarily going to move to nonprofits. Charitable giving has been on the rise in
Gap between rich and poor university students widest for 12 years
The gap between poor students and their more affluent peers attending university has widened to its largest point for 12 years, according to data published by the Department for
This is how COVID-19 is affecting informal workers
There are more than 2 billion people working informally, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). That’s around 62% of the global workforce. And they’re at the greatest risk from the
“Ebola business” concerns resurface as new Congo outbreak spreads
As an outbreak of Ebola ratchets up in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s densely forested northwestern province of Équateur, warning signs are growing that corruption problems that dogged the last epidemic,
Britain’s COVID lending schemes risk widening regional divides
In the northern English seaside resort of Blackpool, the family-run Elgin Hotel is preparing to reopen in August after four months’ enforced closure. The Elgin had a profitable 2019, but
‘We don’t want to go through this again’: Nature protection critical to preventing pandemics, study finds
Combatting deforestation and wildlife trade could avoid costing the planet trillions of dollars in economic disruption, Conservation International estimates. Funding efforts to combat deforestation, risky wildlife trade and nature protection
How women are helping each other to business success in Ghana
Tourism offers opportunities to women with little capital and few skills, but they need friends and professional groups to support them as well. was working for a tour operating business
Microfinance loans could spell disaster in the time of coronavirus
When the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus in 2006 for his concept of microfinance, it brought what began as a local policy experiment in the
The ‘food prints’ of the world’s major economies illustrate our unsustainable food system
Out of the 20 largest economies in the world, only two—India and Indonesia—have diets that stay within the planetary boundaries for climate, the limits for what the Earth can support.
What fate for the Venezuelan migrants stranded in Peru?
In the fight against COVID-19, Latin America presents a set of important challenges: underfunded healthcare systems, largely informal labor markets, extreme poverty and vulnerability, and a human displacement crisis
Stop Illegal Activity in the Amazon: A Plea From Brazil’s Private Sector
VITÓRIA, BRAZIL – As Brazil struggles with the coronavirus pandemic, the illegal destruction of the Amazon rainforest tragically rages on. Unfortunately, the leniency with which these crimes are being treated
UK coronavirus healthcare worker deaths among highest – Amnesty International
The UK is among the countries to have recorded the highest number of health and social care worker deaths during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, according to a report by Amnesty
Food bank donations surged during the pandemic – but look closely at the data and there’s trouble ahead
Food banks in the UK reported that demand had tripled in March this year as the coronavirus lockdown threw millions out of work. Many food banks faced an urgent need for money to buy
2008 vs 2020: What to expect for Britons graduating into the Covid-19 recession
Millennials who graduated between 2006 and 2012 were less likely to find full-time jobs, and when they did find them, their employers generally paid and trained them less. They were
How Immigrant Essential Workers Are Finding Support During COVID-19
“This is an emergency,” one woman says in Spanish. “They’re keeping us here without masks, without antibacterial gel.” Another woman holds up a sign: “#No-Antibacterial. #SOS.” Then another in an
Under cover of the pandemic, stealth land grabs are ongoing in India
The outbreak of the coronavirus and the regulations that have been installed by governments worldwide to protect citizens, life and vulnerable groups effect everyone – but not every person or
To ‘build back better’, we must tackle executive pay
This year, for the first time, UK listed companies are required to publish ‘pay ratio’ data in their annual reports. This must show the total earnings of the company’s CEO
ILO: Job Losses Due to Covid19 Have Already Disproportionately Hit Women
In its latest report, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said that worldwide, an estimated 14% of working hours, equivalent to 400 million full-time jobs, have been lost in the
How Asia’s clothing factories switched to making PPE – but sweatshop problems live on
Personal protective equipment (PPE) has arguably become the most sought-after commodity in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global shortage of this equipment. This has created an
A year after pledging to go ‘net-zero’, what has the UK achieved?
Last summer, Theresa May signed into law the U.K.’s ground-breaking target of hitting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 against a backdrop of increasingly vocal Extinction Rebellion protests, school climate strikes,
Coronavirus may trigger debt emergency across Africa, new study finds
Many African countries could default on debt payments due to increasing repayment costs, precipitated by weak currencies, a ripple effect of the pandemic. But it may also spark digitalization across
Businesses call for green pledges in trade deals to ‘strengthen UK competitiveness’
Future UK trade deals should include enforceable environmental and climate commitments for all parties, while tariffs should be lowered for low carbon goods and services, in order to “strengthen the
Affluence is killing the planet, warn scientists
Would you like to be rich? Chances are your answer is: “Yes! Who wouldn’t want to be rich?” Clearly, in societies where money can buy almost everything, being rich is
Undocumented Farmworkers Are Refusing COVID Tests for Fear of Losing Their Jobs
As states reopen for business, the coronavirus is exploding among America’s 2.5 million farmworkers, imperiling efforts to contain the spread of the disease and keep food on the shelves just as
A Hub of the Gujarat Economy That Became a Zone of Despair For Migrant Workers
When Deepak and Chandan began working in Hazira, they knew they had to make the best of a bad bargain. But nothing had prepared them for the trauma they suffered
In Europe, climate change brings new crops, new ideas
As Europe’s climate shifts in the coming decades, some regions will find it increasingly difficult to sustain traditional crops. But with new varieties and strategies, some farmers are planting with
Global poverty: coronavirus could drive it up for the first time since the 1990s
As COVID-19 slows in developed countries, the virus’s spread is speeding up in the developing world. Three-quarters of new cases detected each day are now in developing countries. And as
COVID-19 Broke the Economy. What If We Don’t Fix It?
Instead of reopening society for the sake of the economy, what if we continued to work less, buy less, make less—for the sake of the planet? At the end of
Coronavirus recovery: why local markets are key to reviving our locked down town centres
During the early weeks of coronavirus in the UK, there was an obsessive focus on supermarkets and how they were handling the pandemic. It was as if traditional retail markets
Towards urban direct democracy in Bhuj, India
The Bhuj Homes in the City process is an inspiring example of bottom-up, socially and ecologically sensitive democracy, focusing on the right to participate and engage in a dialogue. The
Britain’s Slave Owner Compensation Loan, reparations and tax havenry
It’s hard to believe but it was only in 2015 that, according to the Treasury, British taxpayers finished ‘paying off’ the debt which the British government incurred in order to compensate British
In Argentina, a Push to Make the Economy Work for Women
By now, a significant chunk of Argentina’s population has been confined to their homes for two and a half months. But it would be a mistake to say the economy
Uprisings are driving a surge in mutual aid in Minneapolis and beyond
Mutual aid is flourishing in south Minneapolis, where the police killing of an unarmed Black man and a revolt against state violence has left a community hungry for connection and
As protests rage over George Floyd’s death, climate activists embrace racial justice
This year will see the largest ever drop globally in both investment and consumer spending on energy as the coronavirus pandemic hits every major sector, according to the International Energy
People living on low incomes already see the economy as ‘rigged’ – so what next after coronavirus?
Ahead of the 2019 election, Boris Johnson’s Conservatives made moves to brand themselves as “post-austerity”. Big promises to rejuvenate neglected parts of the country won them votes in unexpected places. And
The pandemic could fix the workplace gender gap (or make it wider)
There have been many conversations around how the coronavirus has provided us with an opportunity for a cultural reset and will change not only the way we work, but the
IEA: Coronavirus ‘accelerating closure’ of ageing fossil-fuelled power plants
This year will see the largest ever drop globally in both investment and consumer spending on energy as the coronavirus pandemic hits every major sector, according to the International Energy
Countries with female leaders suffer six times fewer Covid deaths and will recover sooner from recession
The Covid crisis seems to confirm what policy analysts have argued for some time: female leadership may be more engaged on issues of social equality, sustainability and innovation, making societies
As the coronavirus pandemic strains supplies, Native Americans build food sovereignty
Long before a global pandemic swept across her cloistered corner of the Navajo Nation, Cynthia Wilson knew the pains many families took to secure and store food. The multigenerational home she shares
Coronavirus won’t kill globalisation – but a shakeup is inevitable
The COVID-19 pandemic is now expected to trigger the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Many argue it could unravel globalisation altogether. Globalisation relies on complex links – global value chains (GVCs) – that connect
The Brazilian Town (Quietly) Experimenting with Basic Income
When stay at home orders took hold across Latin America, the army of informal workers that sustains day-to-day life found themselves, overnight, unable to meet their most basic needs. The
New study shows benefits of emergency cash grants for gig workers
When gig workers received no-strings-attached emergency cash grants up to $1,000, they were able to get back to work quicker after an emergency, felt less stressed, and, in some instances,
How coronavirus could usher in a new ‘golden age’ of rail travel
Quietly, outside of the public gaze, a revolution has started on Britain’s railways. On March 23, COVID-19 destroyed the railway industry as it had existed for the past 25 years.
Could The 4-Day Work Week Be the Way to Recover From Coronavirus? New Zealand Thinks So.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suggested that the country should consider moving to a four day work week in order to encourage domestic tourism as the country looks beyond
EU starts legal action against Luxembourg over tax evasion
The European Commission has launched legal actions against Luxembourg over laws to prevent money laundering and tax avoidance, it said in a statement. New European Union rules to step up
1,000+ Experts From Around the World Call for ‘Degrowth’ After COVID-19 Pandemic
A group of over 1,000 experts and organisations have written an open letter questioning the world’s strategy, and suggesting a transformative change as we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic that
South Africa’s largest trade union federation tackles climate change and unemployment
COSATU, South Africa’s largest trade union federation, has a plan to simultaneously tackle climate change and unemployment. Until now, a recognition of the link between questions about climate crisis mitigation
Remote work worsens inequality by mostly helping high-income earners
The importance of remote work, also known as telecommuting, is evident during the current COVID-19 crisis. During a period of confinement and physical distancing, telecommuting has enabled some workers to
People in Pacific Island Nations try bartering during pandemic lockdown
A photography session for an old carpet? Or two piglets for a kayak? In Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu, people are attempting barters to combat the precarious economic conditions induced
Finland’s Universal Basic Income experiment points to improved wellbeing and employment
The world’s most robust study of universal basic income has concluded that it boosts recipients’ mental and financial well-being, as well as modestly improving employment. Finland ran a two-year universal basic
How Africa’s public waste management schemes lead the way to a zero waste future
The Covid-19 pandemic affirms the need not just for adequate public health care services, but also the many other services that are essential to keep society running and maintain a
Activist farmers in Brazil feed the hungry and aid the sick during pandemic
For months, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil has insisted the coronavirus is not a serious threat. Beyond instituting a national lockdown in mid-March, his government has left 209 million Brazilians largely
Urban refugees in Turkey uniquely threatened by coronavirus and economic recession
Much has been published about the severity of the situation regarding Covid-19 transmission in different refugee camps such as Cox Bazaar and Lambasia in Bangladesh, Zaa’tari and Azraq in Jordan, Baddawi in Lebanon, Moria in Greece, and Matamoros in Mexico. All
Hunger drives India’s tea garden employees back to work despite Covid-19 fears
Employers claim to have enforced social distancing norms. Workers point to large gatherings at several points in the production process. While industries across the country remained shut because of the
Rating agencies downgrading emerging market economies during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ten African countries have been downgraded since the COVID-19 pandemic started – Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius and Zambia. These
Community-supported agriculture is thriving during the pandemic
Small farms are seeing an avalanche of sudden growth, and trying to ramp up to meet it. The CSA (community-supported agriculture) model—where an upfront membership fee gets you a weekly
Coronavirus plastic waste polluting the environment
Over a month into the lockdown and the usually bustling streets of Kalamata, a Greek city southwest of Athens traditionally known for its olives, are largely empty. As in the
‘A threat multiplier’: The hidden factors contributing to New York City’s coronavirus disparities
Earlier this month, the New York City health department released a map showing confirmed COVID-19 cases by zip code. The highest case counts were concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
The green gig economy: precarious workers are on the frontline of climate change fight
Politicians and business people are fond of making promises to plant thousands of trees to slow climate change. But who actually plants those trees, and who tends them as they
Milan’s plan to limit cars after COVID-19 lockdown lauded as an excellent example of #BuildBackBetter
Climate activists from across the globe on Tuesday welcomed an ambitious new plan for Milan that will, according to the Guardian, transform 22 miles of street space currently reserved for cars “with
Schemes to privatize the U.S. Postal Service are being debated amid coronavirus
At this very moment, U.S. Postal Service carriers are delivering masks and respirators to the front lines in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. They are moving test kits to
Mauritius heads into coronavirus storm with strong social welfare buffers
Many African countries are dependent on food and pharmaceutical imports. Some also rely on overseas remittances and tourism for foreign exchange earnings. This means more hardship is yet to come. Mauritius has not been spared from COVID-19. The
Eastern Europeans flown in for ‘vital’ jobs on UK, German farms
Seasonal workers from Romania were flown into the United Kingdom on a special charter flight on Thursday evening to help fill a huge shortage of workers to pick fruits and vegetables on the