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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Showing 313–324 of 14831 results

Working Paper

Targeting in Protracted Crises: Niger Case Study

BASIC Research Working Paper 21

Targeting social assistance in situations of protracted conflict, displacement or recurrent climate shocks so that it reaches those most in need in a timely and effective manner, and without doing further harm, is a complex technical and political challenge for development and humanitarian...

Fred Merttens & 2 others

13 December 2023

Opinion

COP28: Five key issues for Latin America

For the second year in a row, the UN climate summit is being hosted by a large oil and gas producing nation — the United Arab Emirates. COP28 also marks the ninth year since the summit was hosted by a Latin American nation, after Chile’s turn was interrupted by a nation-wide outbreak of...

Santiago Jaramillo & 2 others

12 December 2023

News

Statement on Palestine

In the context of an escalating humanitarian crisis for the people of Gaza, IDS notes with sadness the failure of the United Nations Security Council to call for an immediate ceasefire in the war on Gaza. Professor Melissa Leach, Director of the Institute of Development Studies, says: “We...

12 December 2023

Past Event

Counting the cost: funding flows, gender backlash and counter backlash

Major political and social shifts are stifling the possibility of gender justice across the world. Analysing this backlash as operating on global, regional and local scales in this webinar, we ask, where is the money? Watch now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G9dc6EzkM8 While predominant...

12 December 2023

Opinion

Unlocking youth voices on health and wellbeing: experiences from London

Young people’s voices are often left out from policy conversations about health and wellbeing. We might wrongly assume that young people are healthier, with lower burdens of chronic disease compared to average adults in London. However, young people are increasingly facing challenges to...

Yasmin Dosanjh & 5 others

5 December 2023

Opinion

Curbing environmental damage: taxation in Africa

How can environmental taxes increase the sustainability of economic growth in low-income countries? Environmental taxes can be defined as any tax imposed on a base with a proven negative impact on the environment – examples include import tariffs on plastic material, charges on traffic...

5 December 2023

News

Climate change and critical agrarian studies

IDS Researcher Ian Scoones has co-edited a new open access book titled Climate Change and Critical Agrarian Studies. It explores the effects of climate change and responses to it on the rural world, including contributions from scholars of critical agrarian studies from around the...

5 December 2023

Opinion

COP28: A cautious cheer for Brazil’s return

Brazil’s enthusiastic return to this year’s COP - the UN’s annual climate change conference - is welcome but we should interrogate the motivations of powerful players in the government’s broad-based coalition, including agribusiness. There is a danger that these players encourage the...

1 December 2023

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).