Inclusive Economies

Our work explores what characterises inclusive economies and how these can be achieved, particularly in a world where new technologies, rural to urban migration, and growing youth populations are disrupting and putting new pressures on people’s lives and livelihoods.

Our research looks at the impacts of business and markets on development and inequality and explores the potential for novel market-based solutions to work for the poorest and most marginalised based on gender, ethnicity and disability.  It explores alternatives that enable workers, consumers and communities to have a real voice.

It continues to revitalise debates on agriculture as a key pathway out of poverty and towards inclusion, particularly for young people. Our work is focused on identifying what opportunities exist in a period of agricultural commercialisation and rural transformation and how far different groups are able to access them.  It also understands how new technologies such as drones or blockchains pose risks, but can also be harnessed to improve the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people.  In a rapidly urbanising world where cities have become focal points for economic growth, jobs and innovation but also for poverty, inequality, vulnerability and conflict, our work explores what this means for both urban and rural people, and the opportunities and challenges they face in living safe and fulfilling lives.

People

Jodie Thorpe

Research Fellow

Philip Mader

Research Fellow

Richard Jolly

Research Associate

Ana Pueyo

Research Fellow

Carlos Fortin

Research Associate

Rachel Sabates-Wheeler

Research Fellow

Keetie Roelen

IDS Honorary Associate

Giel Ton

Research Fellow

Programmes and centres

Projects

Recent work

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Upcoming Event

Navigating uncertainty: Radical rethinking for a turbulent World

In this talk, Ian Scoones will introduce his new book, Navigating Uncertainty: Radical Rethinking for a Turbulent World (Polity Books, 2024). Uncertainties are everywhere. Whether it’s climate change, financial volatility, pandemic outbreaks or new technologies, we don’t know what the...

3 October 2024

Opinion

Using causal hotspots in a participatory contribution analysis of a movement-based psychosocial wellbeing intervention for refugee children

This is the fourth blog in our series on ‘Lessons on using Contribution analysis for Impact Evaluation’. This blog will describe how we used the concept of causal hotspots as a way to zoom in, unpack, and make the hard choices about where producing evidence brings the most value to build an...

Tom Zwollo

8 August 2024

News

Essential reading and listening for 2024

IDS staff and students have put together an essential reading and listening list for the year so far. These books and podcasts cover a whole range of topical themes within development including: immigration gender rights climate change micro-finance financial markets ...

6 August 2024

Opinion

How to tax the ultra-rich: G20 proposal vs. the tools at hand

"It is important for all taxpayers, including the ultra-high-net-worth individuals, to contribute their fair share in taxes," said the finance ministers and central bankers in a joint statement marking the conclusion of two days of meeting in Brazil. Brazil, which this year is presiding over...

5 August 2024

Opinion

We need to embrace nature’s complexity for disease prevention

Covid-19 reminded the world of the interconnectedness of human and animal health. When a wild animal in a Chinese seafood market became suspect number one in the search for the source of the virus behind the pandemic, it was a wake-up call to many working in public health. Understanding the...

Professor Robyn Alders, Honorary Professor at The Australian National University
Professor Dirk Pfeiffer, Chow Tak Fung Chair Professor of One Health at City University of Hong Kong

5 August 2024

Book

Navigating Uncertainty: Radical Rethinking for a Turbulent World

Uncertainties are everywhere. Whether it’s climate change, financial volatility, pandemic outbreaks or new technologies, we don’t know what the future will hold. For many contemporary challenges, navigating uncertainty – where we cannot predict what may happen – is essential and, as the...

1 August 2024

Opinion

A new era for social protection?

Despite social protection’s significant advances in recent years, its potential to contribute to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has not been fully exploited. This can be seen by considering three empirical facts discussed here first, and followed by analysis of how...

Juan Gonzalo Jaramillo Mejia, UN World Food Programme

1 August 2024

Why learn with us.

In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).