This article is published in association with United Nations. Garment factories around the world which have signed up to implement UN-backed labour standards may simply stop investing in improving working conditions, due to widespread uncertainty over tariff levels, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Threatened or actual tariff increases are largely focused on taxing imports […]UN-backed labour standards at risk as tariff uncertainty grows
July 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Garment factories around the world which have signed up to implement UN-backed labour standards may simply stop investing in improving working conditions, due to widespread uncertainty over tariff levels, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Threatened or actual tariff increases are largely focused on taxing imports […]US tariff delay deepens trade uncertainty, warns top UN economist
July 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A leading UN trade official warned on Tuesday that the United States’ decision to delay the end of a tariff suspension by a few weeks risks prolonging global uncertainty and undermining long-term investments and commercial contracts. While the initial 90-day pause on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs offered some […]Better implementation of EU environmental rules protects human health and supports economic growth
July 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission published the fourth Environmental Implementation Review. It supports environmental enforcement and raises awareness about the importance of EU environmental rules to ensure prosperity, competitiveness and environmental security in the European Union. The costs of non-implementation of EU environmental laws through air […]Poorest Countries and Fragile States Are Increasingly Falling Behind
July 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Guillaume Chabert, Robert Powell The significant shocks that have buffeted the global economy over the past five years have weighed heaviest on low-income countries and fragile and conflict-affected states. The post-pandemic recovery in low-income countries has lagged emerging market economies, which began their revival in 2021, though with […]Key actions launched to advance the circular economy
July 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission launched several initiatives to accelerate the EU’s transition to a circular economy and prepare the ground for the Circular Economy Act, expected in 2026. Circular economy enhances competitiveness and economic growth by promoting the reuse, recycling and remanufacturing of materials. The […]Seychelles’ Path to Macroeconomic Stability and Resilience
July 1, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Comprehensive reforms have fueled Seychelles’ journey out of crisis and its continued resilience in the face of shocks Seychelles—a nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean—today enjoys a comparatively high degree of economic stability. Inflation is below 2 percent, real GDP has largely recovered from the pandemic, […]New UN report charts path out of debt crisis threatening global development
June 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A decade after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), development is facing serious headwinds – including what UN officials describe as a “silent crisis” of surging debt service payments in low-income countries. On Friday, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed launched a new report, Confronting the Debt […]How to Spur Economic Growth in Africa’s Fragile and Conflict-Affected States
June 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Wenjie Chen, Michele Fornino, Hamza Mighri, Can Sever More than half of sub-Saharan Africa’s population lives in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS)—economies that face profound challenges such as stagnant economic growth, weak institutions, inadequate public services, extreme poverty, war, and forced internal displacement. Some countries have transitioned out […]Commission adopts European Ocean Pact for a healthy ocean, a competitive blue economy and thriving coastal communities
June 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted a European Ocean Pact, a comprehensive strategy to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. The Pact brings together EU ocean policies under one single reference framework, […]Debt is Higher and Rising Faster in 80 Percent of Global Economy
June 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Era Dabla-Norris, Davide Furceri Fiscal Policy under mounting uncertainty means government budgets need resilience—particularly in countries whose economic weight makes them influence global trends Global public debt could increase to 100 percent of global gross domestic product by the end of the decade if current trends continue, according […]EIB welcomes new UN Protocol to mobilise investment for a sustainable ocean economy
June 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) welcomes the launch of the United Nations Ocean Investment Protocol, a comprehensive new framework to align financial flows and business practices with the transition to a sustainable ocean economy. As a knowledge partner in its development, the EIB recognises the Protocol […]EIB welcomes new UN Protocol to mobilise investment for a sustainable ocean economy
May 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) welcomes the launch of the United Nations Ocean Investment Protocol, a comprehensive new framework to align financial flows and business practices with the transition to a sustainable ocean economy. As a knowledge partner in its development, the EIB recognises the Protocol as […]EU and UAE launch free trade talks
May 29, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Union and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have formally launched negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement, opening the possibility of the first comprehensive EU trade deal in the Gulf region. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and His Highness Sheikh […]Over 60 per cent of the Arab world still outside the banking system
May 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Between 2016 and 2024, the number of Egyptians with a bank account – which experts say is essential for financial inclusion – tripled, from 17.1 million to over 51 million. Even more impressively, the number of Egyptian women with an account increased by 260 per cent, though […]Sudden escalation of trade tensions sends shockwaves through global economy
May 16, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Amid escalating trade tensions and growing policy uncertainties, the global economy stands at a fragile turning point, according to a new report on Thursday from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). Tariff-driven price pressures are adding to inflation risks, leaving trade-dependent economies particularly […]EBRD cuts growth forecasts amid surging trade policy uncertainty
May 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its regional economic forecast for 2025 by 0.2 percentage points relative to its February 2025 projections. According to the Bank’s Regional Economic Prospects report published today, economies in which the EBRD invests are now projected to […]50 year anniversary of China-EU relations: why the EU should care much more
May 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
2025 marks 50 years of official diplomatic relations between the European Union and China and the Chinese Mission organized this week in Brussels a large reception to celebrate and meet the European counterparts. The event coincided with the positive news that China lifted the 2021 sanctions against MEPs, an act of reciprocation on the EU’s […]Commission consults on possible countermeasures and readies WTO litigation in response to US tariffs
May 8, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a list of US imports which could become subject to EU countermeasures, if ongoing EU-US negotiations do not result in a mutually beneficial outcome and the removal of the US tariffs. The list put to […]The Hidden Strength of Government Inefficiency: Why Slow Systems Save Us
May 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Julie Cooper The Efficiency Trap Imagine stepping into a leadership role and feeling like you’ve walked into a swamp. Every step is measured. Every movement is resisted. Progress feels agonizing. Decisions crawl. Approvals get stuck in layers of bureaucracy. It’s frustrating—like trying to run through quicksand. If you’ve […]Afghanistan’s socioeconomic crisis deepens amid crackdown on women’s rights
May 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. In Afghanistan, 75 per cent of the population struggles to meet their daily needs; with female-headed households, rural communities and internally displaced persons being most affected, the UN development agency (UNDP) has noted in a new report. As the Afghan economy faces stalled local production and weak […]Where Budgets Meet Gender Equality: Insights from PEFA Data
April 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Gender inequality is a persistent challenge across countries, regardless of income level. Among various policy tools aimed at addressing these disparities, Gender Responsive Public Financial Management (GRPFM) has gained traction as a promising approach. GRPFM integrates gender considerations into budgetary processes, aiming to allocate public resources in ways […]As budgets shrink, UN Peacekeeping looks to the future
April 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. With just weeks to go before a key ministerial meeting in Berlin, the UN and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to peacekeeping – a vital tool for global stability that must now adapt to dwindling resources. “This is a particularly timely meeting,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General […]Largely eradicated diseases at risk of returning due to budget cuts
April 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Vaccines have saved around 150 million lives over the past 50 years, but that progress is now under threat. Cuts to global health funding are leading to a rise in outbreaks of diseases that vaccines had nearly wiped out, the UN health agency, WHO, is warning on […]Asia’s megacities at a crossroads as climate and population challenges grow
April 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Asia’s sprawling megacities – which are driving economic growth – face an uncertain future as rising temperatures, aging populations and unplanned urban development tests their resilience. Seven of the ten most populous cities in the world are in Asia, with Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai and Dhaka topping the […]Global growth on recessionary path amid trade tensions and uncertainty
April 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The world economy is on a recessionary trajectory as global growth is expected to slow to 2.3 per cent this year due to escalating trade tensions and uncertainty, the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD, said in a new report published on Wednesday. The projection is below […]How to Build Public Support for Energy Subsidy and Pension Reforms
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Era Dabla-Norris, Davide Furceri, Mauricio Soto Many countries struggle with low economic growth and high debt and will need bold fiscal actions to restore their finances. Two significant areas for potential savings are energy subsidies and pension systems. However, reforms in both areas can be unpopular with the public. Public […]Emerging Markets Face a Perfect Storm
April 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Kanan Mammadov Emerging economies are bracing for what could become a new sovereign debt crisis. Developing countries are set to pay a record $400 billion in external debt service in 2024 (World Economic Forum), a burden that threatens to divert resources from crucial development needs. From 2020 to 2023, there were 15 […]How Rising Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Asset Prices
April 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Salih Fendoglu, Mahvash S. Qureshi, Felix Suntheim Heightened tensions can hurt stock markets, raise government borrowing costs, and pose risks to financial stability Global geopolitical risks remain elevated, raising concerns about their potential impact on economic and financial stability. Shocks such as wars, diplomatic tensions, or terrorism can disrupt cross-border trade […]EU and UAE agree to launch free trade talks
April 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, President von der Leyen held a cordial phone call with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. During their discussion, they agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement. This marks a positive step forward […]New screening rules for foreign investment in the EU
April 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, the International Trade Committee adopted revised rules for screening foreign investments in the EU. Under the new rules, more sectors, such as media services, critical raw materials and transport infrastructure, will be subject to mandatory screening by Member States, in order to […]Seven Success Mantras for Public Financial Management Reforms
April 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Antonio Blasco, Srinivas Gurazada Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment reports offer a comprehensive 360-degree view of Public Financial Management (PFM), utilizing robust evidence-based scoring methodology. While producing a high-quality PEFA assessment report is largely a technical exercise, decisions on reform actions necessarily need to go beyond […]Southeast Asia’s Economies Can Gain Most by Packaging Ambitious Reforms
March 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Anne-Charlotte Paret Onorato Combining overhauls in areas including business and external regulation, governance, and human development can boost output levels by 3 percent over four years. Anne-Charlotte Paret Onorato March 25, 2025 Southeast Asia’s major economies have made major strides over the last couple of decades. The largest have seen […]Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy: Lessons from Singapore’s Experience
March 19, 2025 by 3 Comments
This article is published in association with IMF. In 2023, Uganda launched an ambitious growth strategy to expand its economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040. This ‘ten-fold growth strategy’ is anchored on agro-industrialization, tourism, mineral development, and science and technology innovation (ATMS) to accelerate growth. Achieving this bold ambition could elevate […]
