Tag Archives: Growth

International Day of Education 2026: Education Works

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Education is the foundation to skills development and jobs, and the surest way out of poverty, empowering generations to earn an income and drive economic growth. A good education equips learners with key foundational skills—literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional competencies—which are essential for work and life. These skills help today’s children become tomorrow’s productive workers and enable workers to reskill or upskill later in life. The World Bank Group is the largest financier of education in the developing world, with a $26.4 billion portfolio across 81 countries, supporting 324 million students to date with better education.

On this International Day of Education, we look at why education works, and how it helps propel people out of poverty, putting economies on a path to growth.

“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”

Economic growth in 2025 has defied the gloomy expectations

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2025 has been a year of steep ups and downs for the global economy—at least where growth forecasts have been concerned. The consensus forecasts of economists have swung from optimism to pessimism and back again. Yet actual economic activity has remained remarkably resilient. Forecasters now expect global growth of about 2.7 percent—broadly in line with expectations at the start of the year (figure 1A).

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Power More With Less: Scaling Up Energy Efficiency for Growth and Energy Security

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Energy efficiency is a transformative, low-cost solution that can fast-track access to affordable and secure energy and boost economic growth. Amid soaring power demand, driven in part by air conditioners, heavy industry, and, increasingly, data centers needed to power artificial intelligence, energy efficiency can help countries avoid overspending on new energy infrastructure, importing fuels, and taking on more debt for their energy sectors.  

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Global trade has remained resilient so far, but a sharp slowdown is underway

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As we cross the halfway point of 2025, mounting headwinds are slowing down global trade. A decade-long rise in trade restrictions has been supercharged by sharp tariff hikes and retaliatory measures from major economies over the past three months. Although some of these measures have since been rolled back and fresh negotiations are underway, businesses are still navigating choppy waters—including elevated policy uncertainty, stretched supply chains, and the ever-present threat of new barriers. In the face of this, we explore how these headwinds will likely reshape trade growth this year and next, identify the most critical risks ahead, and highlight the bright spots that could help steady the ship.

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2024 Annual Meetings: Agriculture and Food

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The global agriculture and food system can do more than just feed a growing population—it holds immense potential as a driver of growth and job creation. However, to unlock this potential for the long term, the agrifood system needs to prioritize nutrition, climate resilience, and halting environmental degradation.

This flagship event at the World Bank Annual Meetings 2024 will explore how governments and businesses can lead this transformation.

Have questions? Don’t wait—submit them below. Our experts will be responding live on October 23rd! 

WEBINAR LINK

Weakening Growth, Financial Risks

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Global Economic Prospects

Global growth is projected to slow significantly amid high inflation, tight monetary policy, and GEP-2023b-Front-Covermore restrictive credit conditions. The possibility of more widespread bank turmoil and tighter monetary policy could result in even weaker global growth and lead to financial dislocations in the most vulnerable emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). Comprehensive policy action is needed to foster macroeconomic and financial stability. Among many EMDEs, and especially in low-income countries, bolstering fiscal sustainability will require generating higher revenues, making spending more efficient, and improving debt management practices. Continued international cooperation is also necessary to tackle climate change, support populations affected by crises and hunger, and provide debt relief where needed.

Executive Summary

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Growth and Stability During Crises – from University of Niamey

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In his speech, “Growth and Stability During Crises,” World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed the challenges facing development policy, including the need for macroeconomic stability, the importance of private capital to international integration, and the increasing need to support global public goods. President Malpass emphasized the role of education in supporting growth and creating pathways out of fragility and extremism, which are both critical for Africa’s Sahel Region.

The live-streamed speech was hosted by the Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger.

Read the transcript of President Malpass’s speech

 

 

Addressing Challenges to Growth, Security, and Stability

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In his speech, “Addressing Challenges to Growth, Security, and Stability,” President700x700-scene-setter-speech_0.png Malpass will discuss how conflict, COVID-19, and climate change have created unprecedented challenges for developing countries, hurting the poorest and most vulnerable people and communities. He will outline how, moving forward, crisis recovery and longer-term development requires economic transformation, investment in human capital, and security and stability underpinned by support from the international community.

This speech will be broadcast live from Poland, a country that has taken in over 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing war.

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Innovating for Growth in Latin America

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STORY HIGHLIGHTSpsd-peru-students-780

  • The World Bank Group is helping countries across Latin America improve their policies and programs to encourage innovation.
  • To become competitive in global markets, companies need to adopt new technologies and better management practices.
  • Universities and the private sector are opening the lines of communication to align research with business and broader societal needs.

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Event Nov8 :Policies for SME Growth: What Works, What Doesn’t?

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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employ about half of the workforce in developing countries. SME growth may thus raise incomes for many low-income households. But SMEs often face significant constraints to growth relative to large firms ranging from excessive red tape to limited access to finance.

In this talk, Miriam Bruhn will discuss empirical evidence on commonly used policies for SME growth. Miriam will cover policies that work and policies that don’t in the areas of regulation, access to finance, and business practices. Encouragingly, evidence from Mexico, Georgia, Peru, and elsewhere shows that there are a number of programs that governments can implement to support SME growth. She will also highlight implementation challenges and caveats for some of these policies.

How to join! 12:30 – 2:00 PM, November 8, 2016

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