While the overall picture for gender equality is still gloomy, recent changes in family institutions in come countries provide an enlightening example.

Informal employment persists, even when the economy is growing. Understanding the phenomenon is necessary to “tame the beast” of informality. Coherent policies are needed to create decent jobs and provide social protection

Sustainable development requires well co-ordinated and functioning formal and informal institutions. In developing countries, courts, regulations and formal conventions are often observed in the breach or fail to function. By default, informal institutions – tradition, culture, family...

The financing of health care is a major challenge for developing countries, especially since deficiencies in national health systems specifically harm the poor. Innovative financing mechanisms, such as private health insurance, offer benefits and risks. Their implementation requires caution on...

Decentralising health services – the transfer of power and responsibility from the central to the local level – should help the poor if local resources, accountability and governance are in good shape. The process in China and India had negative effects because local governments remained...