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 517–528 of 14836 results

Opinion

Commercialising horticulture in Zimbabwe: some case studies

Last week the blog offered an overview of horticulture growing across our research sites in Zimbabwe. The blog emphasised the importance of a ‘hidden middle’ connecting growers to a range of other activities, all generating employment. This blog focuses on a number of case studies of...

26 July 2023

News

Nature-based Solutions projects must make justice their first priority

Globally, conservation projects to expand carbon sinks are seen as critical in the fight against climate change. As these ‘Nature-based Solutions’ (NbS) projects expand in number and scale, understanding their social dimensions and how to achieve just outcomes is crucial for people and the...

25 July 2023

Impact Story

Evidencing the case for equitable, locally-based pandemic responses

Ahead of next year’s WHO-led treaty on pandemics, our Pandemic Preparedness project and Covid Collective initiative - both examples of what can be achieved through agile partnering and collaboration - have underlined the need to make responses equitable, ethical and...

24 July 2023

Opinion

How the World Bank is restricting farmer’s rights to own, save and sell seeds

Seeds are the starting point for food production but the age old farmer seed system across Africa is being severely restricted by the actions of the World Bank. Guest author Graham Gordon explains how this is criminalising small-scale farms in Kenya, damaging the livelihoods of millions of...

Graham Gordon, Head of Public Policy at CAFOD

24 July 2023

Impact Story

Fostering equality, diversity, and inclusion

We worked closely this year with the employee-led Reward Review Working Group to establish fair and transparent pay and reward structures. An external consultancy (ECC) was commissioned to support IDS to develop clear structures, policy and processes around pay and progression, and that work is...

20 July 2023

Opinion

China’s role in critical mineral mining and its impacts  

The Sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes clear the urgent need for a fundamental transformation of our current fossil-fuel based energy system. The fear of supply shortages of these critical minerals due to surging demand has created...

20 July 2023

Past Event

Archives, coloniality and the neoliberal agenda

North American archives and special collections preserve and create access to cultural heritage materials often perpetuating a colonial and imperialist style of record keeping that can dehumanize underrepresented and marginalized individuals. Today progressive librarians and archivists...

20 July 2023

News

Congratulations to our latest graduates!

On Monday 17 July, we were delighted to celebrate the graduation of 50 students who had completed either their Master’s or their PhD. Among the class of 2023 were Dilmurad Yusupov, whose thesis 'Disability and Citizenship in Post-Soviet Uzbekistan' explored the role of disabled people’s...

19 July 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).