A massive 160-country study by Amory Gethin and Emmanuel
Saez finds no evidence that longer working hours mean higher prosperity. 59% of adults 15+ work
43 hours/week, men do two-thirds of world work hours vs women’s one-third, and policy decisions on
education, retirement, labor law drive work patterns more than income or market forces. Keynes’
15-hour prediction remains unmet.
The World Bank’s May 2026 report describes a food and nutrition
security system at a breaking point. Urea prices jumped 46% month-on-month due to Strait of Hormuz
disruptions, agricultural price indices rose 8%, and fertilizer prices are forecast up 31% in 2026.
Wheat is up 19% year-on-year and maize 23% above January 2020.
The World Bank Group is increasing its commitment to eradicating
extreme poverty through financial resources, policy knowledge, and data-driven strategies. Its new model
focuses on strengthening governance, improving public sector efficiency, creating future jobs, and aligning
growth with environmental sustainability via the International Development Association.
For the first time ever, Mexico, Canada, and the US will
co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The IMF highlights the economic impact as the three host nations
account for about 30% of nominal world GDP. Through its “Beyond the Pitch” series, the IMF will
publish content on trade, growth, and development, showing how large sports events drive long-term
economic implications.
The World Bank Group has focused on five key
industries in which there is great potential for creating employment opportunities: the energy
and infrastructure sector, agriculture and agribusiness, health care, tourism, and
manufacturing. Each of these sectors is interconnected with the other and supports the
creation and development of many job opportunities and a broad-based development strategy.
In a world long dominated by the financial tides of
the US dollar, a new story is unfolding, driven not by a grand, planned design but by an
unexpected external force: the tariff policies of Donald Trump. Trump's renewed presidency saw
him sign an executive order in early 2025, first imposing tariffs on imports from China, then
escalating to a "universal" tariff on nearly all imports. But the most pointed attacks were
reserved for the BRICS bloc and their partners.
Resolving fragility is not only the role of
humanitarian action but also important for international security and economic equality. The
country is experiencing fragility and conflicts through a multifaceted issue that hinders
development and undermines social security. Prolonged hostilities, weak institutions, and state
capacity constraints prevent governments from providing necessary services.
