UNU-WIDER

Image in red and orange, with text blocks that read "Request for research proposals: Green fiscal policies, climate change, and the just energy transition in the Global South. Submit your proposals by 20 December."

Don't miss this research opportunity! 📝 How can carbon pricing & fossil fuel subsidy reforms drive sustainability while promoting equity?

Submit your proposals on green fiscal policies, climate change & just energy transition in the Global South by Dec 20, 2025! More info: go.unu.edu/70BRN

UNU‑WIDER welcomes G20’s report on global inequality

We welcome its recommendation to establish an International Panel on Inequality and reaffirm our commitment to providing the data, analysis, and evidence to build more equitable societies.

go.unu.edu/BxW8E

Read the full study in the @UNU-WIDER Working Paper series: https://www.wider.unu.edu/publication/jobs-and-livelihoods-programming-economic-and-social-stability-fragile-places

📢 New Working Paper: Jobs and Livelihoods for Stability in Fragile Places 🚨
Tatiana Orozco García and Neil Ferguson evaluate support to SMEs in Tunisia and Somalia, implemented by Stichting SPARK to develop demand-driven local growth.
Read full study @unu-wider.bsky.social: shorturl.at/8kEFz

Food security is vital for dignity, equality, and peace, yet it’s often compromised in conflict settings. On today's #HumanRightsDay, we explore how hunger and conflict create a damaging cycle. Read this blog by @apvjustino.bsky.social: go.unu.edu/Y0Y4d

Picture of a person signing a document. Over it, a text that reads "WIDERAngle Blog: Red flags in double taxation treaties"

Tax treaties can quetly drain billions from resource-rich countries before they see any benefits.

This blog by @hkinda.bsky.social and Abrams M.E Tagem shows how double taxation treaties with 'tax hubs' are linked to revenue losses in developing countries.

Learn more: go.unu.edu/Gps6s

📣 New @unu-wider.bsky.social working paper "How do childhood environments contribute to intergenerational economic mobility?: Evidence from 25 years of panel data in Egypt" w/Ragui Assaad and Ruotong Li! www.wider.unu.edu/publication/... #EconSky

As we are getting close to the end of our #WIDER40 celebrations, we look back to 1982, when 24 academics envisioned a wider perspective for economics. From that vision, UNU-WIDER was born. Watch the story: go.unu.edu/wkPd1

#WIDER40

Picture of Prof Tshilidzi Marwala and Tony Addison speaking to distinguished guests at the UNU-WIDER's 40th anniversary reception in Helsinki.

Picture of UNU-WIDER Director Kunal Sen giving a speech on a podium at the UNU-WIDER 40th anniversary reception in Helsinki.

Picture of guests at the UNU-WIDER 40th anniversary reception in Helsinki.

Picture of panel discussion: : Financing for Development amidst global shocks: a wider perspective with H.E. Soili Mäkeläinen-Buhanist, Prof Jose Antonio Ocampo, Prof Attiya Waris, Dr Tomi Järvinen and moderator Director Kunal Sen.

✨ As our 40th anniversary year ends, we’re revisiting the moments that shaped #WIDER40. In March, we gathered in Helsinki to reflect on four decades of research and the power of shared knowledge. A strong start to a year of discussions on inequality and global development. @ununiversity.bsky.social

During his visit to China, our Director Kunal Sen & WIDER Board member Prof. Justin Lin met leadership at Development Research Centre (DRC) and China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) to discuss synergies in advancing globally informed, evidence-based development solutions.

UNU-WIDER contributed a chapter in the Tax Expenditures Lab Flagship Report 2025!
Today was the launch of the report and our Research Associate Maria Jouste presented on the critical need of data to understand tax expenditures.
Find out more about UNU-WIDER's contribution here: go.unu.edu/B1O8f

Image of a SA-TIED working paper titled "Tax code complexity, tax adviser services, and firm outcomes," with tax documents pictured on a table and a coffee cup beside them.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵-𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?

New research from our #SATIED programme shows many firms qualify, but admin demands and information gaps limit real take-up.

Read full Working Paper here: go.unu.edu/kK2to

Can simply seeing social movements in your feed shift your politics on inequality?

New UNU-WIDER & @unumerit.bsky.social research shows that exposure to social movement content on Facebook increased UK citizens' support for redistribution & spurred real political action.

More: go.unu.edu/LDZiU

Aerial view of a busy port in South Africa, showcasing container ships and cranes, with blog title about port reform competition.

If ports are the gateways of an economy, what happens when those gateways slow down?

In our latest #SATIED blog, economist Ryan Hawthorne argues that competition may be key to turning them around.
Learn more➡️ go.unu.edu/aQh3b

What insights emerge when policymakers & researchers rethink #WEFNexus?

Here’s a look at a recent dialogue co-hosted by the SARChI–TRCTI, #SATIED & Centre for Sustainability Transitions, where partners explored funding gaps, policy experimentation & collaboration.

📽️ Full video: go.unu.edu/oXG8M

Researchers at the SOUTHMOD project workshop in 2016

Former UNU-WIDER director Finn Tarp speaking at the launch of the SA-TIED programme, 2017

IGM public forum on higher education on university graduates' transition into labour market in Mozambique, 2018

South Africa's Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, speaking at the SA-TIED Phase II launch in 2022

Celebrating 40 years of UNU-WIDER by reflecting on a decade of partnerships in Mozambique and South Africa, and advances in tax analysis, social protection research, and secure data labs. These collaborations keep shaping how we work — and what comes next.

More: go.unu.edu/o6Ewi

Want a quick take on our latest book, Poor protection?

Check out our policy brief to learn how better tax & benefit systems can protect people when incomes fall.
🔗 go.unu.edu/7c1wU

#SOUTHMOD

🚨 New 2025 Government Revenue Dataset Update!

Our GRD update is here, marking 10 years of data excellence in fiscal research with:

🌍 Data from 193 countries
🕰️ 1980-2023
📊 200+ data points

Learn more: go.unu.edu/8fGZv
Explore the dataset: go.unu.edu/DAwof

What does it take to deliver social development in a world of rising insecurity, inequality & fractured trust?
At #WSSD2, UNU-WIDER highlighted why trust is the missing link: policies work only when institutions are transparent, reliable & participatory.

Read more 👉 go.unu.edu/qlq2o

Picture of a small child holding a bouquet of balloons in a field. Over the image, a text that reads "WIDERAngle Blog: Moving away from traditional aid-or are we moving back?"

Are we moving away from traditional aid or circling back to it? 🤔 Patterns of tied aid and inflated figures are resurfacing.

This blog unpacks what 'traditional aid' means, why it changed, and why current trends might feel more like backtracking.

👉 go.unu.edu/Q09zl

Reliable long-term data is important for understanding how jobs, incomes, & living conditions change over time. Today, DataFirst & our #SATIED programme launched two harmonised datasets built from three decades of Stats SA surveys.

Download the datasets here▶️ go.unu.edu/8JETo

Last week, the IGM Annual Conference in Maputo united researchers, policymakers, and partners to discuss inclusive growth in Mozambique. 🌍 As our first country programme, Inclusive Growth in Mozambique has been vital in our 40-year journey!

📸 Photos from the event: go.unu.edu/JmV6O

Picture of hands sorting through colorful bottle caps, with text over it: "WIDERAngle Blog, Net zero in African cities: why the next climate dollar must land in Africa's neighborhoods"

How can African cities reach net zero without sidelining development?

As COP30 ends, our new blog shows why climate finance needs must reach local governance in order to advance both resilience and decarbonization.
🔗 go.unu.edu/p4vTm

@africancities.bsky.social @globaldevinst.bsky.social

🌍 Happy Africa Industrialization Day! How can Africa achieve sustainable growth & create jobs for its rapidly growing population? Explore alternative pathways to industrialization in our free course! 📅 Start anytime 🔗 go.unu.edu/fG7Qf

Picture of a bar graph depicting baseline/reform. Over it, text that says "SOUTHMOD Newsletter, New issue out now!"

New #SOUTHMOD Newsletter is out!

Catch up on the latest developments in tax–benefit microsimulation across the Global South—including new research, upcoming opportunities, and a look ahead as SOUTHMOD prepares to celebrate 10 years.

Read here:
👉 go.unu.edu/Xi3OB

#DRM

Cover page of the report "South Africa's evergy sector investment requirements to achieve energy security and net zero goals by 2050."

With climate ambition in focus at #COP30, a new study with our #SATIED programme outlines South Africa’s path to energy security & net zero.

Insights:
🍀Green industrialisation is lowest cost
⚡️Grid expansion needed
👨‍🏭 Coal-region workers will be affected

🔗 shorturl.at/R0cnT

Picture of a computer screen with graphs. Over it, text that reads "WIDER Background Note, Global inequality measurement after a decade of better data"

Why do major inequality databases show different levels of inequality? 🤔 Our latest background note dives into the differences in the Poverty and Inequality Platform, WIID Companion, and World Inequality Database. Read more: go.unu.edu/GkgEa

Picture of Okavango river, and over it text on orange background that reads: WIDERAngle Blog: Ending poverty while protecting nature

How can the world tackle poverty and climate change together?

As the world gathers for #COP30, our latest blog revisits a conversation with @opkuusela.bsky.social and @tonysangle.bsky.social on how innovation, policy and research can drive a just green transition.

Read the blog 👉 go.unu.edu/VbbP2

Andrew Boraine chairs the session, speaking while seated at a round table with other participants listening.

Participants, including Georgina Ryan from SA-TIED, applaud during a presentation at the dialogue.

Participants take part in roundtable discussions during the dialogue, seated in small groups and engaging with the session materials.

Professor Erika Kraemer-Mbula (SARChI–TRCTI) and Mark Swilling (SA-TIED) review a chart together at the front of the room.

A #WEFNexus dialogue hosted by #SATIED, #TRCTI & Centre for Sustainability Transitions explored strengthening governance & investment across South Africa’s water–energy–food systems

Insights included:
➡️ Funding gaps
➡️ Policy experimentation
➡️ Cross-sector collaboration

🔗https://go.unu.edu/TSp49

Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala speaking on a podium at the IGM Symposium 2025.

Picture of attendees at the IGM Symposium 2025.

A wide shot of Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala speaking at the IGM Symposium 2025.

Panelists and view of attendees at the IGM Symposium 2025.

📊 Connecting data, research, and policy for inclusive growth! At the Inclusive Growth in Mozambique (IGM) Symposium on Youth Employment in Mozambique, @txm23.bsky.social discussed how AI and digital innovation can transform work in developing economies. Data is 🗝️in effective policy design.
#WIDER40

Picture of Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Prof. Patricia Justino, and H.E. Ambassador Satu Lassila meeting.

Picture of Patricia Justino speaking at the 40th anniversary reception in Maputo.

Picture of Patricia Justino shaking hands with attendees at the 40th anniversary reception.

Picture of Rector Tshilidzi Marwala speaking at the 40th anniversary reception.

🎉 Yesterday, we celebrated 40 years of UNU-WIDER in Maputo, Mozambique, marking also 10 years of pur Inclusive Growth in Mozambique (IGM) programme!

The event brought together long-term collaborators to reflect on the 40 years of shared knowledge ✨

More about our 40-year journey: go.unu.edu/o6Ewi