Development Digest

May 2020: Navigating a New Normal

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The eighth edition of the Development Digest on ‘Navigating the New Normal’ begins with a somber outlook of the economy as the COVID-19 crisis poses threats to both public health and economic growth. We go on to address the core concerns of the pandemic with an article on smart containment and mitigation measures, policies to help Malaysians navigate the cost of living challenge, how SMEs can use knowledge to their benefit, and expanding old-age income protection to informal workers. We then move into a commemoration of the 10th year anniversary of the Malaysian Economic Monitor, speaking to the economists who have led the production of the Hub’s flagship report throughout the decade. This edition also covers a range of key development issues in Malaysia including millennial debt, the country’s Doing Business rankings, Islamic finance as an alternative for financing sustainable development, estimating the number of foreign workers, the role of communications in ensuring policy success as well as how Sabah can catch up in terms of growth and development. We also take a global perspective on development challenges such as corruption, using big data to expand financial services and the future of poverty reduction. Finally, we recount the Hub’s engagement with youth groups throughout the year as a means of empowerment in the public policy field for young Malaysians.

October 2019: Approaching New Frontiers

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The seventh edition of the Development Digest talks about the future of the World Bank Group Global Knowledge and Research Hub as we approach new frontiers. We also delve deep into key development issues in Malaysia, including public service reform, official poverty standards and economic empowerment for women, among others.

April 2019: The Potential of Human Endeavor

The sixth installment of the Development Digest, a semi-annual publication showcasing our work and research, celebrates the World Bank Group Global Knowledge and Research Hub’s third anniversary. We discuss how great ideas can be a force for development around the world before delving into economic issues surrounding Malaysia and the region. 

October 2018: Looking Beyond Averages

The fifth edition of the Development Digest begins with an article on why it’s important to look beyond averages when it comes to the country’s development, followed by a look at the region’s success in the face of global uncertainty.

March 2018: Maximizing Knowledge for Development

We are in our fourth installment of the Development Digest, a semi-annual publication showcasing the work arising from the Hub, to share the Malaysian development experience and the research outputs from the Global Research teams.

October 2017: Insights for Growing Development Solutions

We begin Issue 3 with an update on green Islamic financing, where Malaysia leads the way with the issuance of the world’s first green corporate sukuk. Then, we move into topics like ASEAN at 50, open data, the role of GDP in development, migration, and microfinance. Other articles include one on industrial policies versus public goods to spur growth, and another on economic forecasting.

April 2017: Identifying New Growth Pathways

The focus of this Digest is to share Malaysia’s people-centered developmental expertise and to present new policy research on local, regional, and global issues.

October 2016: New Narratives in Economic Growth

This issue of the Development Digest focuses on matters related to unlocking new dimensions of economic growth, to new generations of trade agreements, to the impacts of sectoral transformation and the importance of human capital development.