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Blog post
Multiple pathways to upgrading in global value chains in Asia
Upgrading is the acquisition of technological capabilities and market linkages that allows firms to enhance their supply chain competitiveness and move to higher-value activities. This upgrading occurs in many different forms representing opportunities for decision-makers in Asia. Countries upgrade GVCs in different forms. In Asia, Vietnam represents one trajectory,...
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Blog post
Three ways in which cities can spur development and climate change adaptation
Cities in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to their geographic features and low income per capita. Many of the challenges related to sustainable urbanisation in poor countries can be overcome by getting the city development model right, and by focusing on pursuing development and adaptation goals in...
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Blog post
How diaspora investment can finance energy access in fragile settings
Improving energy access in fragile settings is fundamental for achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. Blended finance offers a mechanism for investments to flow into the market, pioneering off-grid solutions in these settings. However, more research is required to understand the different types of private finance that are appropriate for...
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Blog post
Creating virtuous circles between urban planning and urban transit
The 2022 Infra4Dev Conference was organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the International Growth Centre. The programme included a thought-provoking discussion on the linkages between urban transport connectivity and local urban development, led by Nick Tsivanidis (University of California at Berkeley), Frederic Abimbola Odaleinde (Lagos State Transport...
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Blog post
How women can improve resilience and productivity of vulnerable households in Pakistan
In this IGC project, we look at evidence from Pakistan to understand the developmental and poverty outcomes of female labour force participation, particularly in low-income and vulnerable households. This is done in the context of informing a concessional finance programme targeted at vulnerable households. However, our findings yield broader results, suggesting that if...
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Blog post
How environmental risk factors affect health and poverty in Pakistan
Environmental risk factors such as air pollution affect health and income disproportionately in lower income households. In this IGC project, we review the long-term effects of non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, and air pollution, particularly on poverty outcomes in Pakistan. Despite lackluster economic growth in recent years, Pakistan has succeeded in reducing...
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Blog post
The impacts of climate change on human wellbeing in developing countries
Climate change is the central challenge facing the world today. With rising temperatures, increasing extreme weather events and other climate catastrophes, it is but essential to urgently usher in a green growth paradigm. Developing countries are set to face the brunt of the climate crisis and need international support to move towards sustainability without compromising on...
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Blog post
Firms and environment: Exposure to pollution, search for lenient certification, and credit defaults in developing countries
The IGC co-hosted the LSE Environment Week from 19-23 September and invited researchers to present their works in progress on environment and firm challenges in developing countries. Firms are one of the engines of economic growth in a country. In the growth process, firms have not only just contributed to environmental degradation but also suffered from increasing...
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Blog post
Energy and environment: Theft, benefits, misallocation, and collusion challenges in developing countries
The IGC co-hosted the LSE Environment Week from 19-23 September and invited researchers to present their works in progress on environment and energy challenges in developing countries. Energy access is key for economic development with electricity being one the most common forms of energy driving productivity. Yet, its access in developing countries is mired in...
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Blog post
Line, tanker, tube well: Water and the politics of hybrid service delivery in Karachi
The distribution and sources of water in Karachi vary due to the numerous state and non-state actors involved. This has impacts on the burden on expenditure for water relative to income. It also affects blame-attribution and credit claiming for access to water, especially along the lines of ethnicity. Water provision in Karachi is complex and layered. Individuals access...
Blog post
Peace or conflict? The impact of private investment in African countries
Private investments can ameliorate or exacerbate conflict in fragile countries depending on the extent to which they are subtractive or additive to the local capital stock. Private sector involvement in peacebuilding processes has been promoted and aided since the early 2000s, especially by multilateral agencies. Evidence of this interest is traceable in official...