Across Africa, can greater employment rates build peace, reduce fear of crime, and restore public trust in government? A new article looks at job creation schemes in five countries: Burundi, Guinea, Liberia, Mali and Uganda. Within South Africa, do social grants and remittances improve food security and nutrition? If so, do public and private transfers produce different outcomes? A new article asks whether the source of income really matters in achieving food security. Across the Global South, h...
In India, diversification is said to improve firm performance. But is this always the case or does it rely on untapped potential and spare capacity on the production line? A new paper takes a broad look at coherence and performance across the Indian manufacturing sector. From Dutch villages to Chinese cities, the “Circular Economy” shares common characteristics worldwide based among others on tailored services and direct customer contact. But could this chain be broken by control fre...
Universities in South Africa claim to use science and innovation to raise living standards for the rural poor. But how does science for society work in practice? Is it a linear process? A new journal article investigates the knowledge-production for societal-benefit missions of various universities. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may lead to massive job losses, according to some sections of the media. But could it not be a source of new jobs? A new working paper discusses the challenges of the AI ...
The ‘Strategic Innovation’ pilot programme, which aims to help entrepreneurs make strategic choices and prioritise them — so that they can really start innovating — kicks off this month in Maastricht and surrounding areas. An initiative of the Maastricht-based institute UNU-MERIT, Strategic Innovation is partly supported by Economic Cooperation South Limburg (ESZL). The programme focuses on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in sectors such as tourism & recreation, manufac...
Science, technology and innovation (STI) was once hailed as the great accelerator of growth and welfare. But is it now in crisis, given the recent lack of ‘trickle-down’ gains combined with the environmental fallout of e-waste? A new article looks at the last half century of STI, as it comes to a crossroads. Travel broadens the mind, but could it also change our perceptions? A new policy brief takes the case of Greek migrants in Germany, the Netherlands and United Kingdom — and...
The world’s poorest nations have long pursued industrialisation as a route to economic development. But how ‘green’ can this route be? How important is climate change mitigation for governments like Ethiopia in their economic growth agenda? Science, Technology & Innovation policy has long been led by the concept ‘smart’. Given the rise of the 2030 Agenda, should ‘sustainable’ be the new guiding theme in this process of creative destruction? Aided by centra...
The number of Green Energy patents rose sharply in the years leading up to 2013, but then fell back. What caused this slow down? A greater reliance on robots is, for better or worse, changing our economies — yet research indicates a positive effect on trade and exports. How far is this linked to margins and unit price? When migrants return to their home country, what do they need to thrive? Two new reports for the International Labour Organization spell out the background for Ethiopia and ...
A 22-year-old student on our Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP) has won the first ever Maastricht Student Entrepreneur Award. Laura Nieboer took home the prize for her ‘Pieke Broodbier’ – a “really fruity” British Golden Ale with a “strong bite” and a novel twist: it is brewed from waste bread. Laura told Zuid Limburg news: “I first realised I could have an ‘environmental career’ while studying for a BA in Environmental Sciences and Entrepreneurship ...
What are the most effective methods for vocational training in Thailand? The list includes computer training courses, partnerships between government and private agencies, and training funded by employers. But how far do any of these help upward economic and social mobility? What is the definition of innovation — indeed, can there ever be a globally agreed definition? This was the task of two international organisations, which recently worked together to ensure a coherent outcome. Universi...