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 925–936 of 14837 results

Report

Uncertainty: Child and Youth Rights and Participation

The sixth Rejuvenate dialogue was held on 15th September 2022. Six panellists working across contexts and themes joined the Rejuvenate team on a discussion on uncertainty and it’s intersection with child and youth rights and participation. From past research, we know that young people do not...

1 December 2022

Report

Conflict-Sensitive Social Protection: Sudan Country Report

This country case study summarises the principal elements of social protection in Sudan, with a particular focus on social safety nets and humanitarian social assistance, and discusses these from a conflict-sensitivity perspective.

1 December 2022

Publication

Designing Surveys and Analysing Results from a Gender Perspective in Economic Research

This document provides guidance on the integration of gender and diversity considerations into applied research in economics focusing on countries in which the informal sector is predominant.

30 November 2022

Opinion

Evidence and learning into action: The impact of K4D

Over the past six years, the Knowledge, Evidence and Learning for Development (K4D) Programme has been providing evidence and learning support to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), other government departments and partners. Since the programme ended in September 2022, there...

30 November 2022

Opinion

Understanding interacting urban risks in Nairobi and Karachi

An elderly woman living in a low-income neighbourhood located along one of Karachi’s key drainage channels died when the roof of her house collapsed in July 2022. A landslide triggered by unprecedented monsoon rainfall was initially blamed. But her house was partially demolished in 2021 when...

28 November 2022

Opinion

Religion, agriculture and market dynamics in Zimbabwe

The last blog offered a brief overview of different churches across our study sites. This second blog in this series focuses on their role in agriculture and markets, and more broadly rural livelihoods. Given their different histories, forms of organisation, finance and religious beliefs...

28 November 2022

Opinion

Enhancing biodiversity through livestock keeping

Touted as a ‘make or break’ conference, the United Nations’ COP15 Biodiversity Conference next month aims to agree on ways to halt and reverse catastrophic nature loss. Following the failure to meet the Aichi targets, the conference will adopt a new Global Biodiversity Framework to stop...

28 November 2022

Past Event

Changing narratives of humanitarian protection: An artistic journey

Join IDS for an exciting exhibition exploring diverse art work about humanitarian protection in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Art is seeing a powerful resurgence amongst researchers, activists and humanitarian practitioners. Interdisciplinary projects are using photography, theatre,...

28 November 2022

Opinion

Radical school spaces for climate action

25 November 2022

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).