Future Development

A paramedic distributes free medicine provided by the government to patients inside a ward at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai July 12, 2012. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, one of two Indian states offering free medicine for all. The state provides a glimpse of the hurdles India faces as it embarks on a programme to extend free drug coverage nationwide. Picture taken July 12, 2012. To match Analysis INDIA-DRUGS/ REUTERS/Babu (INDIA - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY DRUGS) - GM1E87N0HMY01

Outsized focus on cash transfers is missing the point

Stuti Khemani · Friday, April 19, 2019

Wires are seen at the back of servers at the headquarters of network security provider Check Point Software Technologies Ltd in Tel Aviv, Israel August 14, 2016. Picture taken August 14, 2016. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - S1AETVTIXBAA

A new alphabet for Europe: Algorithms, big data, and the computer chip

Wolfgang Fengler and Indermit Gill

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Participants and riot police stand in front of the Serbian Parliament building in Belgrade September 27, 2013. Serbia's government banned a weekend gay pride march for the third consecutive year on Friday, citing the threat of violence from right-wing hooligans, in a move that sparked protests by gay activists and criticism from the European Union. Around 200 gay activists waving rainbow flags and banners that read "This is Pride" gathered outside Prime Minister Ivica Dacic's government office before walking to parliament flanked by riot police. REUTERS/Marko Djurica (SERBIA - Tags: SOCIETY CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CRIME LAW) - GM1E99S0J6801

What’s best for fiscal policy in the Western Balkans—rules or discretion?

Edith Kikoni, Sanja Madzarevic-Sujster, Linda Van Gelder, and Gallina A. Vincelette

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

A protester wearing a yellow vest and with his face painted yellow walks down the Champs Elysees during a demonstration by the "yellow vests" movement in Paris, France, march 9, 2019. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer - RC1B5A4470C0

Do we need a new social contract?

Maurizio Bussolo and Marc Fleurbaey

Thursday, April 11, 2019

A girl uses her phone at Mao Live House during its last public concert night in central Beijing, China April 24, 2016. Mao Live House, a prominent live rock music venue in Beijing, shut its doors on the weekend, the latest closure to hit China's rock music scene. Owner Li Chi said the club, popular among fans of punk, metal and alternative rock since it opened nine years ago, was forced to close due to tighter rules on live performances. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj SEARCH "MAO LIVE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES - S1BETBXEYAAB

Mobile phones are key to economic development. Are women missing out?

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

An attendant at a fuel station arranges Indian rupee notes in Kolkata, India, August 16, 2018. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri - RC1D8766A8C0

What do poor people think about direct cash transfers?

Stuti Khemani, James Habyarimana, and Irfan Nooruddin

Monday, April 8, 2019

Schoolgirls eat their free mid-day meals, distributed by a government-run primary school, in New Delhi May 8, 2013.

Are we reducing hunger in the world?

Homi Kharas and Lorenz Noe

Friday, April 5, 2019

A view of the Moria camp for refugees and migrants and a makeshift camp set next to Moria, on the island of Lesbos, Greece, September 19, 2018. REUTERS/Giorgos Moutafis - RC1C3B625EC0

Adapting global development in a two-tiered world

Kristin M. Lord

Thursday, April 4, 2019

A group of Central American migrants surrenders to U.S. Border Patrol Agents south of the U.S.-Mexico border fence in El Paso, Texas, U.S., March 6, 2019. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson - RC1EFD427530

Central Americans need less violence, more development, and a safe place to stay

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) and Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar sign the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact at the White House in Washington October 22, 2007. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES) - GM1DWKURZWAA

Where has the Millennium Challenge Corporation succeeded and failed to incentivize reform—and why?

Monday, April 1, 2019

People walk in the city of Duekoue in western Ivory Coast August 18, 2015. Mont Peko is one of the protected parks of Duekoue department. Picture taken August 18, 2015. REUTERS/Luc Gnago - D1BETSIPBCAA

Poverty in Africa is now falling—but not fast enough

Kristofer Hamel, Baldwin Tong, and Martin Hofer

Thursday, March 28, 2019

A man carries a bag of food aid at the Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya, March 6, 2018. Picture taken March 6, 2018. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RC1A3D7798D0

How global development leaders think their field is changing

George Ingram and Kristin M. Lord

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Employees works at a recycling factory in Belgrade, Serbia, February 28, 2019. Picture taken February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Marko Djurica - RC1F23F0C560

A low-wage, high-tax trap in the Western Balkans

Mihail Arandarenko

Friday, March 22, 2019

Migrants are seen as they are rescued by Libyan coast guards in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, January 15, 2018. Picture taken January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Hani Amara - RC18027683D0

The continuing tragedy of migrants in Libya

Monday, March 18, 2019

Kosovar labourers harvest potatoes on a field in the village of Pestova, northwest of Prishtina September 23, 2013. The village celebrates Potato Day on October 1 by harvesting potatoes and selling them to a local potato chip factory to support a still fragile economy. Picture taken September 23, 2013. REUTERS/Hazir Reka (KOSOVO - Tags: AGRICULTURE BUSINESS SOCIETY) - GM1E9A1171U01

Job opportunities for youth in Kosovo: 2 steps forward, 1 step back?

Mihail Arandarenko and Stefanie Brodmann

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Contributors

Homi Kharas

Interim Vice President and Director - Global Economy and Development

Shanta Devarajan

Senior Director, Development Economics - World Bank

Shanta_WB

Wolfgang Fengler

Lead Economist, Trade and Competitiveness - World Bank

wolfgangfengler

Indermit Gill

Nonresident Senior Fellow - Global Economy and Development

About Future Development

This blog was first launched in September 2013 by the World Bank in an effort to hold governments more accountable to poor people and offer solutions to the most prominent development challenges. Continuing this goal, Future Development was re-launched in January 2015 at brookings.edu.

For archived content, visit worldbank.org »