Ideas for Impact Newsletter - Issue 1
Introducing the Institute for Economic Development
The Institute for Economic Development is a new World Bank Group initiative designed to foster global collaboration in tackling key development challenges. It brings together think tanks, experts, researchers, and academics to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and access curated insights from the latest development research.
The Institute was launched last month by World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics Indermit Gill during the “Partnering for Africa’s Prosperity” conference. Through its Explore, Engage, and Exchange approach, it aims to leverage the best development ideas from around the world and make knowledge accessible to everyone.
Thank you for subscribing to our quarterly newsletter. Each edition will keep you informed about our latest activities, events, expert insights, curated research, and more. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to your connections and let us know your goals and interests—we’d appreciate your input as we shape the Institute’s future offerings.
- The Institute for Economic Development Team
EXPLORE Research and Data Insights
Delve into curated research and data, and insights from our experts and partners.
World Development Report 2024 – The Middle-Income Trap
The World Bank World Development Report 2024 outlines how all developing economies can avoid the middle-income trap. Read our curated policy messages for a deep dive into the report. Policy messages
Watch: Women, Business and the Law explainer
The World Bank Women, Business and the Law index examines how legal barriers limit women’s economic opportunities in 190 economies, ultimately impeding economic growth. Watch this video explainer and read our curated policy messages to learn more. Express your interest in our learning course to deepen your understanding of these critical issues.
Watch the video | Policy messages
Insights from our Experts and Partners:
From shadows to sunrise: How to overcome the middle-income trap
Ufuk Akcigit, the Arnold C. Harberger Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago; and Somik Lall, Senior Adviser to the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group; outline highlights from countries’ journeys from lower-middle-income to high-income status. Read more
Pathways out of poverty toward a more prosperous future
What must be done to quicken the pace of poverty reduction, boost shared prosperity, and protect our planet? Deon Filmer, the World Bank’s Development Research Group Director; Haishan Fu, Chief Statistician and Director of the Development Data Group; and Luis Felipe López-Calva, Global Director of the Poverty and Equity Global Practice; outline the options. Read more
More insights from our experts and partners.
ENGAGE with a Global Network
Join us or read highlights from our recent activities.
Upcoming Opportunities:
Call for Applications: Government Analytics Fellowship 2025
This fellowship is designed to help government analysts repurpose government data to strengthen public administration, using insights from the Government Analytics Handbook. The fellowship is a collaboration between the Institute, the World Bank's Development Impact Group and the Governance Global Practice, and University College London. Apply by January 10, 2025. Read more
Recent Activities:
Italy and the World Bank Group: Partnering for Africa's Prosperity
Organized in collaboration with the Bank of Italy and Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance, this conference focused on policies to accelerate sustainable development in Africa. It highlighted insights from the World Development Report 2024: The Middle-Income Trap and hosted panel discussions on energy, jobs, and digital innovation. Read more | Watch the replay
Empowering Climate Resilience
Organized by the Institute and the Coalition for Capacity on Climate Action (C3A), this event facilitated discussions around the upcoming World Bank Policy and Research Report (PRR) on “Rethinking Resilience: Empowering People for a Changing Climate.” Stay tuned for the release of this report!
Trade, Value Chains and Financial Linkages in the Global Economy
Organized with the Bank of Italy and the European Central Bank, the third edition of this conference convened leading world scholars from both academia and policy institutions to take stock of recent developments in international trade, value chains, financial linkages and their macroeconomic implications. Read more
Monitoring the Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet
This event, held at the Institute's Rome hub and co-organized with Tufts University, brought together global and national stakeholders to share best practices and strategies to expand monitoring frameworks for healthy diets globally. Read more
EXCHANGE Knowledge and Ideas
Share knowledge, ideas, and capacity through our learning events.
Making Debt Data Transparent and Sustainable Amidst Debt Distress
This course provided an in-depth understanding of debt statistics from the World Bank Debtor Reporting System. Participants examined gaps and discrepancies that undermine confidence in debt statistics, impact debt sustainability, and complicate debt restructuring. Read more
Growth Academy
The University of Chicago and the Institute partnered to launch this joint initiative, an intensive summer school focused on research and policy for economic development in middle-income countries. Read more
Trade and Climate Change Summer School
The Institute's inaugural Summer School in Perugia, Italy, garnered significant interest, attracting over 200 applications. Over the course of five days, the selected participants discussed the latest trends in climate policy, focusing on trade and development. Read more
Manage Successful Field Research e-Learning
This online course developed by the Institute in collaboration with DIME Analytics improves the skills and knowledge of field research practitioners. More than 6,700 people have enrolled in this course. Express your interest to join future offerings. Read more
Learning Series: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies
The Institute and the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice present a new learning series based on the World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies to explore how migration can lift people out of poverty, how to measure its benefits, and more. Read more
See more events and knowledge exchange opportunities.
Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the Ideas for Impact newsletter directly in your inbox.