Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 19h

We're at #PAC2025! Come meet our brilliant Research Assistants, Yuvuna Jaichan & Joseph Gozoya, and dive into cutting-edge research on:

🔍 Tax compliance
🏢 Multinational tax evasion
⛏️ The mining sector

📍 Visit us today & tomorrow!

More info: go.unu.edu/WHB6c

#TaxCompliance #FairTaxation

Yuvuna Jaichan and Joseph Gozoya at the UNU-WIDER booth at PAC 2025

Amina Ebrahim and Yuvuna Jaichan at the UNU-WIDER booth at PAC 2025

UNU-WIDER booth at the PAC 2025, with Joseph Gozoya standing behind it smiling.

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 1d

“Political elites don’t just govern, many also own businesses.”

New @voxdev.bsky.social piece by Sam Jones, Felix Schilling & Finn Tarp discusses how political connections shape Mozambique’s private sector. Read it here 👇

VoxDev @voxdev.bsky.social · 1d

🆕 How political connections shape Mozambique’s private sector

Today on VoxDev, Sam Jones (UNU-WIDER), Felix Schilling (ADC Consulting) & Finn Tarp (University of Copenhagen) discuss the risks associated with political elites owning private businesses: https://ow.ly/cqql50X7BbC

How political connections shape Mozambique’s private sector

Political elites don’t just govern, many also own businesses. In Mozambique, public office is often converted into private business capital, highlighting how political power can be a direct route to economic influence, both for office holders and their families.

ow.ly

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 1d

We’re glad to join SEWA Bharat & WIEGO at NITI Aayog for a roundtable on women & informal enterprises in India.
Informal ≠ insignificant. Recognizing & strengthening informal enterprises is key to building an inclusive & resilient economy.
More: go.unu.edu/SrJTJ

Reposted by UNU-WIDER

Finnish University Partnership for International Development @unipid.bsky.social · 5d

🌍 Join a panel discussion - "What do we know about poverty and inequality for the next development agenda?" by the @unu-wider.bsky.social

This high level discussion will explore the best way forward on global poverty & inequality and how they can be measured for the next development agenda.

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 3d

✨ The latest WIDERAngle is here!

Catch up on:
• Fresh insights on poverty, inequality & the next global agenda
• Blogs on democracy, elites, wages & tax
• New partnerships & policy dialogues shaping the future

👉 Read here: go.unu.edu/IcgG7

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 4d

Former Visiting PhD Fellow Thanh Bui is now a Lecturer at University of St Andrews, researching education, health & labour market policies. 🌍 For 40 years, UNU-WIDER has supported building skills, networks & policy impact. More on our journey: go.unu.edu/o6Ewi #WIDER40 #UNUAlumni #UNUat50

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 5d

Fragility is a widely used, yet often misunderstood concept in development.

Our new research defines: fragility is the ease with which a system fails. In this research, we identify 5 ways to measure fragility to support better policy.

Read the paper👉 go.unu.edu/rzuu5

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 6d

How can tackling illicit financial flows help finance universal child benefits? 🌍👶 A new #SOUTHMOD study reveals that taxing hidden capital flight could create fiscal space for social protection in low- & middle-income countries. Read more: go.unu.edu/Ya7l0

Picture of a woman carrying a child on her back, with the text "WIDER Working Paper, How could taxing illicit financial flows contribute to financing a universal child benefit in Ghana?" over it.

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 7d

India’s minimum wage raised the pay of the poorest workers & narrowed wage gaps, without job losses. The next challenge: making these gains last & moving toward a living wage. Blog by Saloni Khurana, Kanika Mahajan & Kunal Sen 👉 go.unu.edu/aJdrN

A bustling marketplace scene with vendors preparing food, with a text WIDERAngle Blog "India's minimum wage success, and the work ahead"

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 8d

@apvjustino.bsky.social is at Fragile Lives 2025 in Berlin!

Tomorrow, her keynote discusses the global erosion of trust—in institutions, in democracy, and interpersonally—and what this means for social cohesion and governance in fragile contexts.

Learn more: go.unu.edu/XxaSa

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 8d

Want your research skills to make a global difference?

We're hiring a Research Assistant in Helsinki to support our work on reducing inequalities.
Work on data, analysis, and publications that influence development policy worldwide.

Apply by 12 Oct 2025: go.unu.edu/0lKEo

Graphic that says "Vacancy announcement, Research Assistant, full-time or part-time" "Helsinki, Finland, Apply by 12 October"

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 9d

🚨 New Journal Article!

How do US interest rate hikes ripple through emerging economies? New research on South Africa shows a trade-off: inflation control raises debt, while debt stability brings higher inflation.

Read here: go.unu.edu/qCzXs #SATIED

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 10d

Meet our Visiting PhD Fellow Elif Erbay from Istanbul University! 🌍 Her research explores how intergenerational mobility and gender norms shape educational outcomes in Türkiye.

Want to join the programme? Apply by 30 Sept 👉 go.unu.edu/Isrqv

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 11d

Our 40-year anniversary reception in South Africa was one evening, but the partnerships behind UNU-WIDER’s work have been built & strengthened over many years. This short recap shares some of the voices who make it possible. Thank you to all who joined us.
More information: go.unu.edu/XX1ll #WIDER40

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 11d

Our researchers were at the 7th World Bank/ODI Global/IFS Public Finance Conference this week!
Amina Ebrahim and Kwabena Adu-Ababio spoke at the Fire session 1 🔥 about employment tax incentives in South Africa and minimum wage and tax in Zambia
More here: go.unu.edu/xuY2v

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 12d

Yesterday in NYC, UNU-WIDER hosted a panel on the upcoming 𝘗𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 & 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵. Key findings reveal over 1 billion live in fragile contexts, with Nigeria and DRC making up a quarter of global extreme poverty. Thanks to all participants! Read more: go.unu.edu/yXJbc

Patricia Justino, Maria Genoni, and attendees at the Poverty & Fragility Companion Report – Fragility at the Core of Global Poverty event in New York.

Pasi Hellman, Nicole Goldin, and attendees at the Poverty & Fragility Companion Report – Fragility at the Core of Global Poverty event in New York.

Full conference room at the Poverty & Fragility Companion Report – Fragility at the Core of Global Poverty event in New York.

Patricia Justino, Nicole Goldin, and Gary Milante at the Poverty & Fragility Companion Report – Fragility at the Core of Global Poverty event in New York.

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 12d

Everyone defines "fragility" differently, affecting coordination & policy 💭
Our research offers a solution: a framework to defining fragility. Define failure first, then measure it.

Watch Joan Margalef explain, or read the paper to learn more: go.unu.edu/rzuu5

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 13d

Happening today in Johannesburg!

We gathered at the University of Witwaterstrand to celebrate 40 years of UNU-WIDER with partners to reflect on shared knowledge shaping policy & research. 🌏

Read more about the event and stay tuned for highlights: go.unu.edu/XX1ll

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 13d

Today’s #PolicyDialogue hosted with Southern Centre for Inequality Studies showed:
➡️ Economic growth & net zero can advance together
➡️ Green industries can drive job creation, structural transformation & decarbonisation
➡️ The Global South has agency to shape fairer global rules
go.unu.edu/j6UOd

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 14d

Are you a master's student in Finland working on:
✅Tax Research for Development
✅Building Trust and Institutions for Peace?

Apply for our Master's Student assignment for hands-on experience with an international research institute. Application deadline 30 September!

👉 go.unu.edu/aY1Fx

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 15d

Today we renewed our strategic partnership with ATAF to strengthen tax systems in Africa 🤝

What does this mean for ATAF's members?
✨ policy dialogues
✨ co-authored policy briefs
✨ training programs
✨ research collaboration

Read more: go.unu.edu/RBlhE

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 16d

This week in NYC, experts tackle the urgent overlap of poverty & fragility. Join us for insights from the new Poverty & Fragility Companion Report.

📍 Bahá'í International Community, 866 UN Plaza
📅 Thurs, Sept 25 | 09:30–11:00 ET

Limited seats! Secure yours: go.unu.edu/yXJbc

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 16d

Do elites drive progress or hold it back?

In this blog, Tomas Casas-Klett shares insights from a new report on the Elite Quality Index, a comparative composite index that measures elites' impact on human & economic development. Read the blog to learn more: go.unu.edu/OzU26

Graphic for WIDERAngle Blog titled "Do your national elites create value, or siphon it off? A novel index supplies insight" with an image of the interior of a private jet with plush seating.

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 17d

📚 Excited to see the new book, Apostles of Development, featuring key figures in UNU-WIDER's history!

The book highlights:
✨ Amartya Sen - founding member
✨ Lal Jayawardena - our first Director
✨ Mahbub ul Haq - Board member

👉 go.unu.edu/NNbOY
#WIDER40

Book cover of 'Apostles of Development' by David C Engerman

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UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · 18d

Don't miss this opportunity!

Are you a researcher in development economics? Join our Visiting Scholars programme for up to 3 months in Helsinki! Engage with global experts and enhance your work.

📅 Apply by Sept 30: go.unu.edu/92w21

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