On 21 July, EU leaders agreed on a €1.8 trillion package that should boost the recovery after the COVID-19 crisis, but also contribute to the advancement of key EU societal objectives, starting with the climate transition. In this blog post we assess the green ambitions of the package and evaluate its consistency with the European...Read more »
The value of inclusive infrastructure in a post-coronavirus world
The global health crisis has left us no choice but to demand a transformative future where more adaptable, flexible, multi-purpose and inclusive infrastructure can help society stay resilient in the face of looming threats. As we emerge from this coronavirus pandemic, what future should we anticipate? Listening to some politicians and pundits, we are led...Read more »
Courage under Fire: Policy Responses in Emerging Market and Developing Economies to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The coronavirus crisis is a crisis like no other, and for emerging market and developing economies (EMDE), it has triggered a policy response like no other, both in scope and magnitude. Despite their diversity, and in some cases, strained resources, this large group of countries—consisting of emerging markets and low-income countries—have bolstered the provision of...Read more »
Debt-To-Health Swaps: Financing health system resilience beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
On April 13, 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved immediate debt relief to 25 of its member countries under the adapted Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT). The debt relief is one of several measures to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and supports, especially vulnerable and indebted countries for an initial phase...Read more »