Development Research Group

The 2024 Tax Data Analytics Week will feature a series of impactful events focused on using taxation microdata to address key global policy challenges. This week-long program will bring together experts, policymakers, and researchers to explore cutting-edge insights into public finance.

All sessions will be available via livestream for remote participants. 

International trade has historically been a force for development and poverty reduction. But trade is increasingly viewed as contributing to inequality and risk, depleting natural resources, and threatening the environment. To better understand the role of international trade on development outcomes and their sustainability and inclusivity, the World Bank and the editorial team from the Journal of International Economics are hosting a research conference in Washington, DC on September 12-13, 2024.

Do voters choose the best leaders or just the best male candidate? In a new VoxTalks Economics podcast, Senior Economist S Anukriti discusses her recent working paper that looks at how a school-building program in India shifted voter perceptions. Anukriti and her co-authors found that the program increased voter prioritization of leader competence over gender, boosting the share of women among candidates and state parliamentarians and the overall capability of elected officials. 

Land institutions and policies will be critical to help African countries respond to the challenges of climate change, urban expansion, structural transformation, and gender equality. Yet, many African land registries command little trust due to poor performance and wealth bias in service delivery. This publication draws on a wealth of data, examples, and studies from Africa and beyond to show that regulatory and institutional reforms can harness countries' potential by improving the quality, coverage, usefulness, and sustainability of documented land rights.