Poverty
Gender equality financing: Spotlight on Southeast Asia
You can’t manage what you can’t measure, as the adage goes. And in terms of measuring gender equality and women’s empowerment, considerable barriers exist. While significant…
Global poverty is still a massive problem – no matter how you count it
The world must return its focus to the fight against global poverty. The Covid-19 pandemic pushed millions more into extreme poverty while the global economic recovery thereafter…
Global economic prospects are the worst in decades but investing in the future could be the answer
The World Bank released its semi-annual Global Economic Prospects Report on 10 January, and it reads like a warning shot across the bow for the world’s economies.
Global…
Timor-Leste: Breaking free from temptation of easy money
A successful 21 May election in Timor-Leste saw the smooth and peaceful transition of power to a new government led by Xanana Gusmão – new, in the sense of being newly sworn in,…
Globalisation promised growth. Now emerging economies need a new path
The global economy is now entering a more dangerous phase of “selective” de-globalisation. Escalating geopolitical tensions have spilled over to the once “secular” arena of trade…
East Asia’s low welfare spending model fails to tackle inequality
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, debates about East Asian miracle economies were centred on the secrets of their success. Unlike most industrialised nations, they managed to…
“Silver lining”: Covid‑19 accelerates progress on financial inclusion
While Australians have been poring over the census results, the World Bank released the Global Findex. This is essentially the worldwide census on financial inclusion, published…
Mapping Southeast Asian development assistance
Over the past two years, the global pandemic has had staggering economic and social impacts in Southeast Asia, pushing millions into extreme poverty. As economies slowly emerge…
Food security and Covid-19: Recognising women’s leadership
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences…
World order in the time of coronavirus
The liberal order faces its greatest crisis since the end of the Cold War. Liberalism is in retreat around the world. The United States is led by a president whose America-first…