Global employment stable but decent jobs in short supply

© UNICEF/Fouad Choufany A young unemployed man receives job training in Lebanon.

This article is published in association with United Nations. Global unemployment remains stable, but progress toward decent work has stalled, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which warns that young people continue to struggle in a job market which risks being further undermined by AI and trade policy uncertainty. According to […]

‘Beyond GDP’ economists push for clearer metrics on wellbeing, sustainability

This article is published in association with United Nations.

This article is published in association with United Nations. Top finance experts are meeting at UN Geneva this week to push for a radical shake up in the way economic growth is gauged, in response to concerns that GDP measurements provide little insight about progress on key sustainability targets that are vital to our survival. Backed […]

Global economy shows signs of steady but subdued growth

This article is published in association with United Nations.

This article is published in association with United Nations. The global economy has shown resilience amid turbulence during the past year, including shifting trade policies – yet growth remains subdued and far below pre-pandemic levels, the UN said in a landmark report published on Thursday.  The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 predicts that global economic output will grow by 2.7 […]

One health, one fight: confronting antibiotic resistance before it becomes a cancer

Isaac Aidoo Erzuah is a third-year medical student and research assistant at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.

This article was exclusively written for European Sting by Mr. Isaac Aidoo Erzuah, a third-year medical student and research assistant at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do […]

Deal on new measures to boost citizens’ investments in financial markets 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament has struck an informal deal with Council on new rules to help retail clients invest in quality financial products and protect them from misleading or biased information. On Thursday morning, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on a series of changes to several EU […]

Circular economy: deal on new EU rules for the automotive sector 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Early on Friday morning, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new EU circularity rules to cover the entire vehicle lifecycle, from design to final end-of-life treatment. Improved vehicle design and use of recycled materials According to the agreed draft, all new vehicles […]

‘Leave no one behind’: As wealth gap widens, UN calls for new industrial deal for world’s poorest

This article is published in association with United Nations. Ministers and leaders from across the world’s 44 least developed countries have pledged to accelerate industrialisation that benefits all, and strengthen resilience in the face of global challenges, at an international UN conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  “First, we need to end the war. Then, we have […]

Commission welcomes the judgment of the Court largely confirming the validity of the Directive on adequate minimum wages

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission welcomes today’s judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union largely confirming that the Directive on adequate minimum wages stands on firm legal ground.  Adequate minimum wages are essential for social fairness and a productive and inclusive economy. They help to protect workers’ purchasing power, reduce wage […]

Commission provides new guidance to Member States on implementing Social Climate Fund and fulfilling Social Climate Plans

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has issued new guidance to help EU Member States effectively implement the Social Climate Fund (SCF) and complete their Social Climate Plans (SCPs). Starting in 2026 and mobilising over €86 billion, the Social Climate Fund has been created to ensure the […]

EU to boost financial literacy and investment opportunities for citizens

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission today announced two major initiatives to advance the Savings and Investments Union and deliver tangible benefits for all EU citizens. The comprehensive package focuses on improving financial literacy for all and at all life stages and introduces a blueprint for Savings […]

How Stablecoins and Other Financial Innovations May Reshape the Global Economy

This article is published in association with IMF. Three years ago, Finance & Development devoted a full issue to anticipating “The Money Revolution,” driven by innovations in finance, such as crypto assets. That revolution is now unfolding. This issue of F&D looks at the new frontiers of finance, where technology, data, and changing societal values are reshaping how people and […]

‘Perfect storm’ of global crises drove years of food price surges: FAO

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.

This article is published in association with United Nations. The chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Máximo Torero Cullen, previewed its annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report in a briefing on Tuesday to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York. The report, to be released later this […]

UN searches for solutions to global housing crisis

This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN’s urban development agency estimates that an astonishing 2.8 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing, secure land, and basic water and sanitation services – that’s around 40 per cent of the global population. This includes more than 1.12 billion people living in slums or informal settlements. An […]

Commission brings relief to European consumers and businesses with Action Plan to save €260 billion annually by 2040

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU is at a crucial turning point for its competitiveness, decarbonisation and security, with a clear need to act. Structurally high energy costs are hurting our citizens and businesses. The challenges are clear, and so is the role of the European Union to […]

Cost of living and environment are the main concerns of young people in the EU

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. An EP survey of EU citizens aged 16-30 shows social media is their main information source, and that the majority are also aware of the risks of online disinformation. Rising prices and the cost of living are a concern for 40% of the 16-30 […]

Right to Complaint, Grievance Mechanism on Internationally Funded Projects

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. What can local residents do when urban infrastructure projects impact their businesses and homes? How can an indigenous community protect its ancestral lands, affected by the construction of a dam? What rights protect these individuals, and how can they assert them? The grievance mechanisms of eight […]

Persistent Fall in Private Borrowing Brings Global Debt Down

This article is published in association with IMF. Global debt decreased about one percentage point to 237 percent GDP. The values for 2023 are now available from the just released IMF’s Global Debt Database. Global private debt fell by 2.8 percentage points to 143 percent of GDP, below the 2019 level and more than compensated for the […]

Wages are recovering after negative shift in 2022, says UN labour agency

This article is published in association with United Nations. Pay packets around the world rose 1.8 per cent in 2023 and continued their positive trajectory in the first half of the year, rising by 2.7 per cent on the back of a strong post-COVID global recovery, the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Thursday. “If […]

Coffee, tea and cocoa costs see global food import bill soaring past $2 trillion

This article is published in association with United Nations. The global food import bill is projected to exceed $2 trillion in 2024 – fuelled by the rising cost of everyone’s favourite hot drinks – according to the latest Food Outlook released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday.  The biannual report, which focuses on […]

Cost of living is citizens’ main concern at the start of the new legislature

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Parliament released today the “EU Post-Electoral Survey 2024” looking at voting behaviour and the main priorities of EU citizens. Rising prices and the cost of living (42%) and the economic situation (41%) were the main topics that motivated European citizens to vote […]

Sustained Economic Growth Hinges on Productivity Gains as Populations Age

This article is published in association with IMF. A productivity slump is eroding living standards and imperiling financial and social stability “Productivity isn’t everything,” Paul Krugman wrote in his 1990 book, The Age of Diminished Expectations, “but in the long run it is almost everything.”  Productivity is a foundation of prosperity. The only way a country can […]

EIB invests €490 million with ICF to finance the construction of affordable and energy-efficient homes in Catalonia

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Institut Català de Finances (ICF) have signed a €163 million loan to finance the construction of affordable rental housing with high energy efficiency standards in Catalonia, Spain. This is the first tranche of a total loan of €490 million backed by the […]

‘Shrinking in size, but not in price’ – Everything you need to know about ‘shrinkflation’

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Emma Charlton, Senior Writer, Forum Agenda “A bag of chips has fewer chips, but they’re still charging us just as much.” That’s the President of the United States slamming companies for engaging in “shrinkflation”, widely reported earlier this year. And President […]

4 ways the climate crisis could be coming for your income

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Simon Torkington, Senior Writer, Forum Agenda How would you feel if your salary was about to be cut by 20%? You may be about to find out, since climate change will cost us almost a fifth of our […]

Money matters: Your guide to financial literacy

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Meagan Andrews, Lead, Capital Markets Initiatives, World Economic Forum, Haleh Nazeri, Lead, Longevity Economy, World Economic Forum The world of finance can be a complex place, but it’s important to develop a basic understanding of the influential role […]

It is time to create an economy that works for all

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Piyachart “Arm” Isarabhakdee, Chief Executive Officer, BRANDi and Companies Since 2020, around two-thirds of newly created global wealth has gone to the top 1%. Now, some might argue, “if you work hard, you succeed.” But working hard is not enough. Capital […]

Why we must optimize supply chains for the sharing economy

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Valentina Carbone, Professor of Sustainability and Supply Chain Management, ESCP Business School In our developed economies, most consumers have now played some part in the so-called ‘sharing economy.’ Perhaps they have sold vintage books on eBay or given […]

How renewables can start a consumer energy revolution

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Helena Leurent, Director-General, Consumers International Renewables are now the world’s most affordable energy. In fact, the latest solar panels generate cheapest electricity in human history. But hardly any households are seeing the financial benefits. Many consumers are struggling to […]

The Longevity Economy Principles: igniting 35 organizations to build the foundation for a financially secure future

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. The impact of the Longevity Economy Principles. In 2020, 1 billion people were aged above 60. By 2050, this number will have more than doubled to 2.1 billion. For individuals to thrive in their longer lives, an intentional focus on […]

Despite economic and geopolitical challenges, consumer-led growth remains

This article is published in association with United Nations.

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Aparna Bharadwaj, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group, Nivedita Bilaji, Associate Director, Boston Consulting Group The world is facing major geopolitical disruptions, economic challenges and technological change. These big-picture issues have captured headlines. They’ve also entered the […]

How an incentive-based market instrument aimed at consumers could help reduce emissions 

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Gbenga Ibikunle, Professor and Chair of Finance, The University of Edinburgh Many of the actions needed to achieving net zero involve societal behavioural change, including changes to how we heat our homes, travel and shop.Incentive-based market instruments are […]

What is ‘global debt’ – and how high is it now?

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Victoria Masterson, Senior Writer, Forum Agenda, Madeleine North, Writer, Forum Agenda This article was first published in May 2022 and updated in October 2023. The sudden rise in inflation has pushed global debt to new highs. In the […]

Paper wealth or wealth based on productivity – what happens next? 

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Sven Smit, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Jan Mischke, Partner, McKinsey Global Institute The global balance sheet – the sum of all assets and liabilities in the world economy – has expanded continuously for the past two decades.But […]

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