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Accelerating Development: Ideas for Impact

Accelerating Development: Ideas for Impact

By: World Bank Institute for Economic Development
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An AI-powered, expert-led podcast on cutting-edge policy solutions for today’s biggest development challenges, direct from our global research network.

🌐 Listen to other languages: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/wbginstitute

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Political Science Politics & Government Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Takeaways from AGORA 2025: Africa’s Energy Challenges, Access, and Institutional Reform

    Takeaways from AGORA 2025: Africa’s Energy Challenges, Access, and Institutional Reform
    Apr 4 2026
    Over six hundred million people in Africa still lack access to electricity. This episode reflects on discussions from AGORA 2025, where participants emphasized moving beyond connections toward reliable, affordable energy for productive use. Conversations highlighted a dual-track approach to electrification, the importance of measuring reliability and economic impact, and the central role of institutional reform, financing, and governance. Key trade-offs and open questions remain around pricing, risk, and implementation. Generated with AI using wondercraft.ai and guided by our experts. Read more at https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/74c381a242831efd02d6b88d437401e7-0050012026/original/AGORA-Takeaways-of-Energy-Session.pdf
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    12 mins
  • Episode 30 The Jobs Reinvention in Europe and Central Asia

    Episode 30 The Jobs Reinvention in Europe and Central Asia
    Mar 28 2026

    By 2050, Europe and Central Asia will lose 17 million workers from its workforce — yet productivity growth has been stalled since 2008. This episode unpacks the demographic cliff threatening the region's prosperity and asks: how do you grow an economy when your labor force is shrinking? We explore why young SMEs generate nearly 40% of new jobs despite employing only 14% of workers, how an overqualification paradox leaves half the workforce underutilized, and why closing the AI gap is no longer optional. From reforming State-Owned Enterprises to mobilizing private capital, the roadmap for sustainable growth is clear — if policymakers act now. Generated with AI using wondercraft.ai and guided by our experts.

    Read more at https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca/publication/europe-and-central-asia-economic-update
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    9 mins
  • Episode 29 From Bananas and Pineapples to iPhones: A New Framework for Industrial Policy

    Episode 29 From Bananas and Pineapples to iPhones: A New Framework for Industrial Policy
    Mar 17 2026
    Low-income countries target an average of 13 industries in their development plans—compared with just 5 in high-income economies. Yet many lack the fiscal space for large subsidies. In this episode we explore what’s new about industrial policy today. Rather than trying to “pick winners,” the emerging framework focuses on matching policy tools to a country’s fiscal space, market size, and institutional capacity—and managing a portfolio of risks. From Costa Rica’s shift from bananas to pineapples to India assembling the latest iPhones, the discussion highlights how countries can upgrade industries and move up the value chain using a more pragmatic approach to development. Generated with AI using wondercraft.ai and guided by our experts. Read more at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/industrial-policy-for-development
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    13 mins
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