Economics Perspective

Three months after the UN World Food Programme warned Middle East conflict could push millions into starvation, the 'war shock' is reality. WFP's report finds 2.5M more people in Somalia, 1.3M in Sri Lanka, and 2.3M in Afghanistan in acute food insecurity as oil holds above $100/barrel.

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.

European Commission notes youth use internet 4.5 hours on school days and 6+ hours on weekends, with 14% exceeding 10 hours daily. 34% of young people feel anxious, unhappy, or socially excluded due to platforms. 1 in 4 children see harmful content. Flash Eurobarometer May 2026 shows 3 in 4 parents are “truly worried”. Urgent need for digital literacy, platform regulation, family dialogue.

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.

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.