Development Research Group

The Journal of International Economics, Banque de France, Centre for Economic Policy Research, World Bank, and University of Surrey invite submissions for the inaugural edition of the International Seminar on Trade (ISoT), which will take place May 5-6, 2025 in Washington, DC at the World Bank. ISoT focuses on recent advances in empirical, theoretical, and quantitative international trade. The organizers also welcome papers in closely related fields if they include a significant international trade component. Submissions are due by January 24, 2025.

Sub-Saharan Africa has shown significant growth in financial inclusion over the past decade, driven by mobile money account adoption as well as by efforts by governments and financial institutions to promote bank account opening. In a recent series of notes, the Global Findex team explores the data on financial inclusion and usage in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how having an account affects wellbeing and resilience for African adults.

Government procurement is big business, typically accounting for 10 to 20 percent of annual GDP depending on the country and year. Policy makers often view procurement systems as a powerful industrial policy tool to achieve macroeconomic policy objectives, but tools to evaluate these policies are limited. Join us on January 28 as World Bank economist Manuel García-Santana shares new insights from economic research to address this pressing question.

The inaugural edition of Research Insights explores how India’s public works program, MNREGA, successfully reduced groundwater depletion, how a large-scale preschool construction initiative in Mozambique is boosting enrollment and educational outcomes, and how electoral turnover is improving service delivery in Indonesian villages. Research Insights aims to bridge the gap between complex research and practical application, fostering informed decision-making and effective policy design.