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 ...
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...
Many African nations are well endowed with natural resources. Botswana, for example, has massive diamond deposits — but also a border with South Africa. Which is the greater blessing for long term-growth? Meanwhile, India is well-known for its high-tech hubs — but how far do digital technologies assist in public-funded education; and in what ways do they improve the learning environment? Finally, almost half of all girls married before age 18 worldwide come from South Asia. Why does ...
Growth has long played a key role in poverty reduction — but how does inequality affect growth? Could inequality even derail the UN goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030? Meanwhile, cooperation in Research and Development (R&D) has long been a core aspect of innovation strategies. But how important are cross-border, inter-firm agreements in our globalised economy? Finally, when it comes to trade and the protection of domestic Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), most studies focus on ...
Destructive creation defines the digital age. But when it comes to frontier technologies like biotech and infotech what should be the priority: influencing policy, reforming institutions, or supporting citizens? Meanwhile, migrants in Greece often hold strong preferences for certain destination countries. How much should policymakers incorporate migrant preferences in (re)distribution schemes? And the Great Recession of 2008 was a crisis for many countries, including Ireland. But how far did fin...
A thread runs through education, innovation, and productivity. But how do these links play out in the Gulf States of Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates? Meanwhile, many top African researchers are completing their PhDs at British or American universities. Should African policymakers therefore change their assessment systems and give more incentives to homegrown talent? Finally, in order to grow, firms have to nurture their reputations. But what are the pros and cons of domestic cer...
Across Europe, there has been clear progress in environmental policy over the last 40 years. But will EU nations really achieve their vision of ‘living well, within the limits of our planet’ by 2050? Throughout West Africa, innovation has long been a reliable driver of development. But what specific policy challenges remain for the region and how much can partnerships address these concerns? Globally, mass redundancies may follow the rise of machine learning, robotisation, and artif...
Women and young people in Tunisia are more empowered than ever in legal terms. But do legal protections equal everyday empowerment? En route to Europe, men and women face various kinds of corruption. But is sextortion more prevalent in patriarchal cultures? Investment flows in various ways to the Global South. But do bilateral treaties increase foreign direct investment; and if so, by how much? These are just a few of the questions tackled by our researchers in April 2018 — in five journal artic...
Conflicts raged across Latin America for many decades. But what exactly brought peace? Purely military ‘solutions’ or more social interventions linked to welfare spending, reduced inequalities, and institutional trust? Across Central Asia, return migration is often linked to greater entrepreneurship and economic development. But how clear, lasting and voluntary is this link? Globally, scientific knowledge is key to developing nano medical technologies. But what countries are leading ...
Food security is doubly threatened by climate change and population growth. Could better storage technologies address some of these challenges, in Ethiopia for example? Meanwhile, China is providing more and more development assistance across Africa. But how does this affect individuals in terms of wealth and educational attainment? Finally, migration is often stressful but what are the long-term health effects on children, in Eastern Europe for example? These are just a few of the questions tac...