Who benefits from Russia’s war in Ukraine
While tens of millions of Europeans have suffered from Russia’s war in Ukraine, a few Russian businesspeople have gotten richer from it. This column...
Opinion Pieces
Patterns in sanctions on Russian individuals
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 opened a new chapter in unilateral and multilateral sanctions: the imposition of financial and travel...
Credibility, trust, and perception of authorities’ performance
The credibility of an institution is, almost, synonymous with how well it is trusted. This column uses survey data to examine how trust in various...
Reducing bureaucratic hassle in Ukraine
A reform removing the need for businesses to use a company seal when dealing with government agencies means ‘signed, sealed and delivered’ has become...
How a regulated utility innovates without breaking things
Safety and stability are essential for public utilities. But they face pressure to innovate to keep up with technological innovation, environmental...
How the financial authorities can take advantage of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence will both be of considerable help to the financial authorities and bring new challenges. This column argues the authorities...
The meandering path of gender reform in Africa
Informality prevails in Africa, especially among women. Eighty-eight per cent of working African women were employed in the informal economy in 2022...
Gender-based violence blocks Pakistan’s economic development
Despite some advances in women’s rights in Pakistan, economic and political unrest has increased gender-based violence in the country. A system of...
A growth plan for Greece
In January 2020, the Greek government appointed a Commission to propose a growth plan for the Greek economy. The Pissarides Commission produced a...
What’s at stake for women in Argentina
The stakes are high for gender equality in Argentina, which has a chequered history in gender reform. Now the next president might be an extreme-right...
The gap between perceptions and outcomes of women’s rights in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates have taken steps to alleviate gender inequalities in its legal system, amending their labour, personal status and criminal...
The cost of the Kakhovka Dam destruction
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 has resulted in significant economic and environmental losses. This catastrophe impacts the lives of...
The role of finance in improving household health
Increased access to financial services after the expansion of banks in India improved household health outcomes.
The gap between law and practice in gender rights
In the past century, legal reforms for women’s rights improved economic and social outcomes for women and for society as a whole around the world...
Towards a new tax system in Ukraine
Ukraine’s tax system functions primarily on the basis of unofficial rules of tax collection. This divergence between law and practice predates Russia...
Economic backwardness in Russia
Western sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have markedly changed the constitution of President Putin’s inner circle. This column argues that...
