Podcasts about World Bank Group

In this episode of the Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie discusses global development with Bruegel director Jeromin Zettelmeyer and Alfonso García Mora, vice president for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group's arm for mobilizing private finance. They discuss what tools are available, what needs can be addressed, and how that fits into today's geopolitical environment. By helping public and private funders work together, these efforts allow recipient countries like Ukraine to get more out of international assistance.

In this episode of Climate Conversations, Bryony Loveless and Tulika Gupta speak with the UK Special Representative for Nature, Ruth Davies, and the UK Special Representative for Climate, Rachel Kyte, at the CSCEN conference. Together, they reflect on the key themes that emerged from the conference—from what keeps them optimistic, to international collaboration, to the role of civil servants in driving forward the UK's environmental leadership. Guest Bios:Rachel Kyte is the UK's Special Representative for Climate, Professor of Practice in Climate Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, anddean emerita of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She previously served as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All and held senior roles at the World Bank Group.Ruth Davis OBE is the UK's Special Representative for Nature, appointed to strengthen international engagement on biodiversity and nature recovery. She brings more than 20 years' experience in environmental policy and advocacy, having held senior roles in government and non-governmental organisations.Connect With Us:Join the conversation: environment.network@energysecurity.gov.ukCSCEN website: https://www.civilserviceenvironmentnetwork.org/Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/civil-service-environment-network/Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only.

The digital world is developing at a phenomenal pace. From AI tools at our fingertips, to advancements in energy, consumer technology, and connectivity: change is here. Harnessing these changes can unlock prosperity, create jobs, allow access to public services, and accelerate development. But with the digital divide still creating a chasm of connectivity, bridging the gap is an urgent challenge. In this episode of The Development Podcast, we explore how we can ensure that nobody is left behind, and how digital advancements create real-world impact. Featured voicesIdah Pswarayi-Riddihough, Global Director in the Digital Vice Presidency, covering digital use, and the Director of Strategy and Operations.Américo Muchanga, Mozambique's Minister of Communications and Digital TransformationAnthony Tan, Grab group CEO and co-founderYoumina Machele, student who is using digital tools to accelerate her leaning in MozambiqueTimestamps[00:00] Welcome: the benefits of closing the digital divide [01:39] Grab and the power of the digital economy[06:57] Digital tools in education[09:33] Digital transformation and public service delivery in Mozambique[15:42] How the World Bank Group is supporting digital transformationABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;) Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

Partner Digital- Oliver Wyman Sind Männer angesichts von Quotenfrauen wirklich benachteiligt? Woher kommt der konservative “backlash” mit tradwives und sinkender politischer Repräsentanz von Frauen weltweit? Und noch wichtiger, was können wir dagegen tun? Darüber diskutieren wir mit Dr. Kai Bender, Partner Digital, der sich bei der Beratungsgesellschaft Oliver Wyman für Inclusion und Diversity einsetzt. Er stellt fest: “Du hast einfach eine bessere Atmosphäre bei diversen Teams, das ist auch geschäftlich wichtig. Die Unternehmensberatung ist notorisch nicht divers, da dürfen wir nicht nachlassen. Genderdiversity ist das dringendste und offensichtlichste Thema. Fakt ist allerdings auch, Frauen unabhängig von Familienwunsch, finden die Beratung nicht so attraktiv, da müssen wir bessere Angebote machen.” Wir sprechen auch über die u.a. von Oliver Wyman publizierte Studie zu Teilhabe zu Frauen in politischen Führungspositionen, Klassiker der Literatur und dem Teammeeting in Tropical Islands. Hintergrundinformationen: Dr. Kai Bender How women´s politcal representation can acceleration global economic growth, Studie Oliver Wyman Forum, World Bank Group and WPL Feedback, Gästewünsche: • Kommentare/Anregungen: https://www.instagram.com/ich.bin.so.frei/; https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zoé-von-finck-81b32857/ • Verein: www.ich-bin-so-frei.org • Spenden: Ich bin so frei e.V. IBAN: DE 24830654080005361192 BIC: GENO DEF1SLR Volksbank/Skatbank

On this episode, Stewart and Rebecca are joined by Sean Whittaker from the World Bank Group to take a bit of a deep dive into a recent report from the World Bank Group and the ESMAP program. It is an update to an earlier, seminal piece of work for the offshore wind industry, titled Making Offshore Wind Work: Key factors for Successful Development of Offshore Wind in Emerging Markets... which is probably one of the longest titles of a seminal paper ever.The team discuss everything offshore wind, but also take a brief stop to hear more about Sean's background building wind turbines in Madagascar! GWEC's Offshore Wind Podcast is hosted by Stewart Mullin, GWEC's Chief Industry Officer, and Rebecca Williams, GWEC's Deputy CEO, who leads on all GWEC's Offshore Wind work.The podcast, or 'show' as Stewart still likes to call it, features leading voices from across the sector, whether that is large OEMs, key supply chain manufacturers or political leaders driving policy, to talk about how we can all work together to deliver on offshore wind's enormous potential.Follow Stewart on LinkedIn hereFollow Rebecca on LinkedIn here and Instagram hereFollow GWEC on LinkedIn here and Instagram here

David Malpass, Former President of the             World Bank Group; Served in the Trump, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush Administrations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode explores how monitoring and evaluation systems enable the World Bank Group to learn from its support for gender equality, assess whether it leads to meaningful change, and decide when to scale up or adjust efforts to maximize impact.

In this episode, Melissa Venable, NCDA Director of Professional Development, discusses writing and publishing career development books with guests Sujata Ives and Paula Brand. They discuss their motivations, the long and challenging process of publishing, the costs involved, and the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing. Sujata and Paula offer practical advice, including the importance of planning, asking critical questions, and reading extensively. The episode provides valuable guidance for anyone interested in writing a book.Sujata Ives, PhD, GCDFI, OWDSI, is a workplace global consultant and leader in the field of career development and employment counseling. She is a sought-after international speaker and international best-selling author of the book and workbook “Activate Success, Tips, Tools, & Insights to Be a Leader in Your Niche” available on Amazon & Kindle. Her keen approach to leadership takes a novel approach through storytelling, self-leading and introspection as foremost to change management, conflict-resolution, and sustainable impact. She was the first to publish an article for SHRM association on the topic of “Common Sense Leadership” and published her counselor story as a foreign-born counselor in ACA's Counselor Stories series. Sujata is the 2023 recipient of the National Career Development Association's Diversity Initiatives Award. She was chosen to participate in the 2024 NCDA Leadership Academy class, where she conducted a national and international study through a needs analysis on intercultural leadership, and after graduating she was chosen to become Chair of the Leadership Academy Class of 2026. In addition, she is also Chair of Programs at the Asia Pacific Career Development Association; member of the Awards Committee; member of the Global Connections Committee; Treasurer of the MCA; and Community Coordinator for the World Council on Global & Intercultural Competencies, UNESCO. Sujata has a limited private practice and can be reached at www.drsujataives.comPaula Battalia Brand is the author of The Purple Parachute: A Woman's Guide to Navigating the Winds of Career Change. This DIY manual walks you through a step-by-step process to learn about yourself and move you through career transitions successfully. It's available in all formats (eBook, audiobook, and hard copy). This book is a manifestation of Paula's passion to empower women in the workplace. Paula is a Global Career Coach & Consultant, LinkedIn Expert, Speaker, Trainer and Author with a background in human resources, workforce development, training and career counseling.  She founded Brand Career Management to provide career services to individuals and employers. Organizational clients have included the World Bank Group, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the Executive Educations programs at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Her formal education includes a master's degree in applied psychology (Industrial/Organizational) from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor's degree from UNC-Greensboro. Additionally, Paula currently holds three industry certifications including Global Career Development Facilitator, Certified Salary Negotiation Specialist, and Job and Career Transition Coach. Learn more about Paula's book at http://www.purple-parachute.com/. You can learn more about Paula at www.brandcareermanagement.com.ResourcesResources for Aspiring AuthorsSend us a text

With 1.2 billion young people in emerging economies reaching working age over the next decade—and only about 420 million jobs expected to be generated—the urgency of finding scalable and sustainable solutions has never been greater.In this episode of The Development Podcast, we hear from one young person about their journey into the world of work and what the World Bank Group is doing to address one of the most urgent issues facing development: how to meet the stable employment aspirations of the developing world's fast-growing youth population.Featured voicesAjay Banga, President, World Bank Group Makhtar Diop, Managing Director, International Finance Corporation Christina Williams, Lawyer and activist Omprakash Shukla, Chairman and founder, Royal Group of Companies Sharon Maithia, Logistics Manager, Royal GroupTimestamps[00:00] Welcome: Jobs, young people and prosperity[03:31] Young voices from Jamaica: Christina Williams, lawyer and activist[12:49] Job creation: Five promising sectors[15:09] Voices from Kenya: Inclusive growth and supply chains[19:48] The role of the private sector in job creationABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;) Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

In this episode of IFC Audio Stories we explore the dynamic collaboration between IFC, private sector players and the Rwandan government to establish the country as a biotechnology hub. Featuring the voices of Rwanda's State Minister of Health and other key stakeholders this podcast explores the ambitious effort thats paving the way towards a future where African nations lead in pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare solutions.

Since the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund just ended, I thought it would be good to replay an episode about global economic governance. In my conversation with Jamie Martin, we look at early efforts of international development and technical assistance, revealing how many of the tensions that existed in the early 1900s are still with us today. Jamie Martin is an Assistant Professor of History and Social Studies at Harvard University. His new book is The Meddlers: Sovereignty, Empire, and the Birth of Global Economic Governance. freshedpodcast.com/jamiemartin -- Get in touch! Twitter: @FreshEdpodcast Facebook: FreshEd Email: info@freshedpodcast.com Support FreshEd: www.freshedpodcast.com/support/

Leah Wald is CEO of SOL Strategies (CSE: HODL), a publicly traded Canadian company actively investing in, supporting, and providing infrastructure for the Solana blockchain ecosystem. Prior to Sol Strategies, Leah co-founded and was the CEO of Valkyrie Investments, leading the firm to over $1.3 billion in AUM through cryptocurrency trusts, hedge funds, and ETFs. Valkyrie's advisory business was acquired by CoinShares, and its private trust division by Abra Capital in 2024. Previously, Leah worked at the World Bank Group in the sub-Saharan African region and served as a Partner at Lucid Investment Strategies, one of the first RIAs to allocate GBTC for their clients. Ms. Wald is a contributing writer for Forbes and co-authored the book Hyperwave Theory: The Rogue Waves of Financial Markets.In this conversation, we discuss:- Becoming more than the MicroStrategy of Solana- Acquiring OrangeFin Ventures + Laine Validators (Stakewiz)- The difference between SOL Strategies and SOL ETFs- Investing in ETFs vs companies- Why investment advisors don't push public crypto companies + ETFs- Partnership with Pudgy Penguins- The future of the Solana ecosystem- Pudgy penguins securing a SOL validator- Investing in crypto via publicly traded companies- Launching a Solana staking mobile app- Bridging consumer brands with institutional blockchain infrastructure:- Branded validatorsSOL StrategiesWebsite: solstrategies.ioX: @solstrategies_LinkedIn: SOL Strategies Inc.Leah WaldX: @LeahWaldLinkedIn: Leah Wald ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is brought to you by PrimeXBT.  PrimeXBT offers a robust trading system for both beginners and professional traders that demand highly reliable market data and performance. Traders of all experience levels can easily design and customize layouts and widgets to best fit their trading style. PrimeXBT is always offering innovative products and professional trading conditions to all customers.   PrimeXBT is running an exclusive promotion for listeners of the podcast. After making your first deposit, 50% of that first deposit will be credited to your account as a bonus that can be used as additional collateral to open positions.  Code: CRYPTONEWS50  This promotion is available for a month after activation. Click the link below:  PrimeXBT x CRYPTONEWS50

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group spring meetings are under way in Washington, with warnings of a tariff-fuelled hit to the global economy. Asian finance ministers hope to ease some of the tensions. Plus: an interview with Roberto Cingolani of Italian defence giant Leonardo, Tim Marshall’s new book, and a programme for teaching soft skills to Gen Z.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group meet in Washington DC, the Trump administration's shakeup of the global economy is top of mind. Host Christopher Walljasper talks to Trade and Global Economics reporter David Lawder and Emerging Markets Correspondent Karin Strohecker about what lies ahead for these institutions. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter and the daily markets newsletters: Morning Bid U.S. by Mike Dolan and Trading Day by Jamie McGeeve here. For information on our privacy and data protection practices visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vladimir Putin has indicated that he could be open to bilateral talks with his Ukrainian counterpart. Also: the annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group spring meetings take place and AC Grayling debates wokeism. Plus: we explore the love of short pop songs in our culture news round-up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the GRU Podcast, we host Dr. Vera Sevrouk, the Senior Syndications Officer at the International Finance Corporation, to discuss the structure and implications of the IFC's Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP.) The discussion begins by detailing the IFC's role within the World Bank Group before detailing the structure, composition and development of the MCPP, what role the insurance sector plays and how credit insurance is leveraged in the program, providing examples of projects supported by the MCPP, common challenges facing institutions looking to participate in the program and much more.

Rich discusses "Liberation Day," and President Trump's long-awaited announcement on tariffs. We also get some input from Matthew McGuire, former U.S. executive director of the World Bank Group. Later, we look at the Dept. of Education's final warning to Maine over transgender athletes, as well as a probe into the state's alleged "gender plans," with Sarah Parshall Perry, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and incoming vice president of Parents Defending Education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group spoke with Economic Club Chairman David Rubenstein on the current state of the global economy, the challenges and opportunities in emerging markets, and strengthening economic resilience in the face of ongoing geopolitical and financial uncertainties.

I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!Devin: What is your superpower?Brigit: I would say authenticity.The power of social entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change in the world is undeniable. At the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, the mission is clear: leverage market forces to end poverty. Executive Director Brigit Helms leads the charge, helping entrepreneurs apply business principles to solve social and environmental challenges."The purpose of a business is purpose," Brigit explained. "The primary reason for having your business is to solve a social or environmental problem that you see around you in your community."Miller Center's impact speaks for itself. Since its founding, it has accelerated over 1,500 social enterprises across 100 countries. With a strong emphasis on women's economic power and climate resilience, the center has catalyzed transformative change in communities worldwide. Brigit highlighted the success of Someone Somewhere, a company based in Mexico that sources artisan work from some of the country's poorest regions. By securing a major contract with Delta Airlines, the company provided thousands of artisans with the opportunity to triple their income.The center's success is measured in tangible results. In 2020, Miller Center set a goal to double the number of lives improved through its entrepreneur network from 75 million to 150 million by 2025. They surpassed that goal ahead of schedule, reaching over 180 million lives impacted. Additionally, entrepreneurs in their programs have seen remarkable growth in fundraising, with capital raised per entrepreneur rising from an average of $500,000 to $2.1 million.Beyond these achievements, Brigit envisions a future where social entrepreneurship is no longer a niche concept but an integral part of all business endeavors. "One of my personal dreams is that all entrepreneurship can be considered social entrepreneurship," she said. "That we don't even have to use that qualifier."As Miller Center looks toward 2030, it aims to foster a stronger global community among its network of entrepreneurs. The shift from transactional support to an interconnected platform of changemakers aligns with the growing demand for community-driven solutions.For those looking to engage, opportunities abound. Miller Center's mentor program allows seasoned professionals to guide emerging social entrepreneurs, while its venture philanthropy fund provides catalytic capital to scalable ventures. As Brigit pointed out, investing in social entrepreneurship creates lasting impact, making it an appealing option for those seeking meaningful ways to contribute to a better world.Miller Center's work proves that entrepreneurship is more than just a pathway to financial success—it is a powerful tool for tackling society's most pressing issues.tl;dr:Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship accelerates social enterprises to end poverty by leveraging business principles.The center has impacted over 180 million lives and helped entrepreneurs raise significant capital.Women's economic power and climate resilience are key focus areas for the center's programs.Brigit's superpower is authenticity, which she uses to foster trust and drive meaningful leadership.Miller Center is shifting toward building a global community of entrepreneurs to drive systemic change.How to Develop Authenticity As a SuperpowerBrigit Helms believes her superpower is authenticity. "What you see is pretty much what you get with me," she explained. She has built a career by fostering environments where people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to the table. Brigit embraces cognitive diversity and encourages open discussions where differing opinions are valued. "Even if you're the only one in the room with a different opinion, you should feel comfortable voicing it," she said. This dedication to authenticity has helped her build strong teams and drive impactful change.An Example of Authentic LeadershipWhen Brigit arrived at Miller Center in 2020, the pandemic made traditional strategic planning impossible. Instead of gathering people in a room for brainstorming, she adapted. Breaking the process into smaller, virtual conversations, she ensured that over 100 voices worldwide contributed to Miller Center's strategic direction. "We ended up with a better product because we included perspectives that might have been overlooked in a typical process," she reflected. Her ability to pivot while staying true to her leadership style reinforced her commitment to authenticity.Tips for Developing AuthenticityBuild Trust Through Vulnerability: Be open about mistakes and ask for help when needed.Encourage Diverse Perspectives: Welcome differing opinions and create space for honest discussions.Foster Psychological Safety: Ensure that team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts without fear.Practice Self-Reflection: Regularly evaluate whether your actions align with your core values.Embrace Change While Staying True to Yourself: Adapt to new challenges without compromising integrity.By following Brigit's example and advice, you can make authenticity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileBrigit Helms (she/her):Executive Director, Miller Center for Social EntrepreneurshipAbout Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship: For over 25 years, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship has been a leader in the global social enterprise movement. With an emphasis on climate resilience and women's economic power, it accelerates entrepreneurship to end poverty and protect the planet, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Located at Santa Clara University, the center fuses the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley with the university's heritage of social justice, community engagement, and global impact. Miller Center has served 1,500 social enterprises based in over 100 countries that are impacting hundreds of millions of lives.Website: millersocent.orgCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/millersocentOther URL: mysantaclara.scu.edu/givenow?designation=Miller%20Center%20for%20Social%20Entrepreneurship (fundraising page)Biographical Information:Brigit Helms is the Executive Director of Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University, where she holds the Howard & Alida Charney Professorship for Science, Technology, and Society. For over 30 years, Helms has created and delivered solutions to social and environmental challenges in 55 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She has held leadership roles at DAI, the Multilateral Investment Fund (now IDB Lab), McKinsey & Company, and the World Bank Group, where she was a founding executive at CGAP, a center of excellence for financial inclusion. Helms is the author of Access for All: Building Inclusive Economic Systems and serves on the boards of the AlphaMundi Foundation and BRAC USA. She earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in development and agricultural economics from Stanford University, an M.A. in Latin American studies from Johns Hopkins, and a B.S. in political science from Santa Clara University.Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/millercenter, linkedin.com/in/bhelmsInstagram Handle: @miller.socentSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, AMIBA, SuperCrowdLA and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on March 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, March 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe will be leading a session on "How to Build a VC-Style Impact Crowdfunding Portfolio." He'll share expert insights on diversifying investments, identifying high-potential impact ventures, and leveraging crowdfunding for both financial and social returns. Whether you're an experienced investor or just getting started, this is a must-attend! Don't miss it!SuperCrowdLA: we're going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Sponsored by Digital Niche Agency, ProActive Real Estate and others. This will be a can't-miss event. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!  SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

With Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director, BDL, Canadian Chamber of Commerce.After over 15 years of multidisciplinary experience abroad, taking on this unique role in June 2022 at the Canadian Chamber has been an opportune and fitting homecoming for Marwa. In her role with the BDL, Marwa leads the Research Center of Excellence and is responsible for developing and implementing an innovative long-term research agenda.Prior to her role at the Chamber, Marwa served as the Advisor to the Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt for Private Sector Engagement. She also worked directly with and within some of the world's most renowned multilateral organizations, private sector organizations, and country governments including the World Bank Group, Commonwealth Secretariat, APEC, OECD, Ernst and Young, Nathan Associates and the Asian Development Bank. In addition to leading dozens of capacity and technical assistance projects, consulting on regulatory, legal and policy reforms with these institutions, she also co-authored several publications and working papers. Marwa's journey has seen her through a number of professional pit stops spanning the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region where she's worked on trade facilitation, gender equity, equality, social, and financial inclusion as well as the enablement, engagement and empowerment of the private sector. Still, one driver and common thread has always remained: championing, advocating and catalyzing impactful interventions for vulnerable, underrepresented and underserved groups, including businesses and SMEs, through rigorous data analysis, inventive research and storytelling. Marwa received her master's degree in international relations and international economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She received her bachelor's degree in finance and economics from Queen's University Smith School of Business in Canada.Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor. Facebook: Canadian Women's Foundation LinkedIn: The Canadian Women's Foundation Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation TikTok: @cdnwomenfdn X: @cdnwomenfdn

President Trump has been threatening to “take back” the Panama Canal since he regained power. In this episode, listen to testimony from officials serving on the Federal Maritime Commission who explain why the Panama Canal has become a focus of the administration and examine whether or not we need to be concerned about an impending war for control of the canal. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes Current Events around the Panama Canal March 5, 2025. the Associated Press. Sabrina Valle, Suzanne McGee, and Michael Martina. March 4, 2025. Reuters. Matt Murphy, Jake Horton and Erwan Rivault. February 14, 2025. BBC. May 1, 2024. World Weather Attribution. World Maritime News Staff. March 15, 2019. World Maritime News. July 29, 2018. Reuters. Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 U.S. Department of State. The Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative” Michele Ruta. March 29, 2018. World Bank Group. The Trump-Gaza Video February 26, 2025. Sky News. Laws Audio Sources Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 28, 2025 Witnesses: Louis E. Sola, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Daniel B. Maffei, Commissioner, FMC , Professor, Scalia Law School, George Mason University Joseph Kramek, President & CEO, World Shipping Council Clips 17:30 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Between the American construction of the Panama Canal, the French effort to build an isthmus canal, and America's triumphant completion of that canal, the major infrastructure projects across Panama cost more than 35,000 lives. For the final decade of work on the Panama Canal, the United States spent nearly $400 million, equivalent to more than $15 billion today. The Panama Canal proved a truly invaluable asset, sparing both cargo ships and warships the long journey around South America. When President Carter gave it away to Panama, Americans were puzzled, confused, and many outraged. With the passage of time, many have lost sight of the canal's importance, both to national security and to the US economy. 18:45 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): But the Panama Canal was not just given away. President Carter struck a bargain. He made a treaty. And President Trump is making a serious and substantive argument that that treaty is being violated right now. 19:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): President Trump has highlighted two key issues. Number one, the danger of China exploiting or blocking passage through the canal, and number two, the exorbitant costs for transit. 19:20 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Chinese companies are right now building a bridge across the canal at a slow pace, so as to take nearly a decade. And Chinese companies control container points ports at either end. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation, I believe, poses acute risks to US national security. 19:50 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Meanwhile, the high fees for canal transit disproportionately affect Americans, because US cargo accounts for nearly three quarters of Canal transits. US Navy vessels pay additional fees that apply only to warships. Canal profits regularly exceed $3 billion. This money comes from both American taxpayers and consumers in the form of higher costs for goods. American tourists aboard cruises, particularly those in the Caribbean Sea, are essentially captive to any fees Panama chooses to levy for canal transits, and they have paid unfair prices for fuel bunkering at terminals in Panama as a result of government granted monopoly. Panama's government relies on these exploitative fees. Nearly 1/10 of its budget is paid for with canal profit. 21:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama has for years flagged dozens of vessels in the Iranian ghost fleet, which brought Iran tens of billions of dollars in oil profits to fund terror across the world. 21:40 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): And Chinese companies have won contracts, often without fair competition, as the infamous Belt and Road Initiative has come to Panama. China often engages in debt trap diplomacy to enable economic and political coercion. In Panama, it also seems to have exploited simple corruption. 32:40 Louis Sola: The Panama Canal is managed by the Panama Canal Authority, ACP, an independent agency of the Panamanian government. The ACP is a model of public infrastructure management, and its independence has been key to ensure a safe and reliable transit of vessels critical to the US and global commerce. 33:25 Louis Sola: In contrast, the broader maritime sector in Panama, including the nation's ports, water rights, and the world's largest ship registry, falls under the direct purview of the Panamanian government. 33:35 Louis Sola: Unfortunately, this sector has faced persistent challenges, including corruption scandals and foreign influence, particularly from Brazil and China. These issues create friction with the ACP, especially as it works to address long term challenges such as securing adequate water supplies for the canal. 33:55 Louis Sola: Although the ACP operates independently, under US law both the ACP and the government of Panama's maritime sector are considered one in the same. This means that any challenges in Panama's maritime sector, including corruption, lack of transparency, or foreign influence, can have a direct or indirect impact on the operations and long term stability of the canal. This legal perspective highlights the need for diligence in monitoring both the ACP's management and Panama government's policies affecting maritime operations. 34:30 Louis Sola: Since 2015, Chinese companies have increased their presence and influence throughout Panama. Panama became a member of the Belt and Road Initiative and ended its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Chinese companies have been able to pursue billions of dollars in development contracts in Panama, many of which were projects directly on or adjacent to the Panama Canal. Many were no bid contracts. Labor laws were waived, and the Panamanian people are still waiting to see how they've been benefited. It is all more concerning that many of these companies are state-owned, and in some cases, even designated as linked to the People's Liberation Army. We must address the significant growing presence and influence of China throughout the Americas and in Panama, specifically. 35:20 Louis Sola: American companies should play a leading role in enhancing the canal's infrastructure. By supporting US firms, we reduce reliance on Chinese contractors and promote fair competition. 36:55 Daniel Maffei: Because the canal is essentially a waterway bridge over mountainous terrain above sea level, it does depend on large supplies of fresh water to maintain the full operations. Panama has among the world's largest annual rainfalls. Nonetheless, insufficient fresh water levels have occurred before in the canal's history, such as in the 1930s when the Madden Dam and Lake Alajuela were built to address water shortages. Since that time, the canal has undertaken several projects to accommodate larger, more modern ships. In the last couple of years, a trend of worsening droughts in the region, once again, has forced limits to the operations of the canal. Starting in June of 2023 the Panama Canal Authority employed draft restrictions and reduced the number of ships allowed to transit the canal per day. Now the Panama Canal limitations, in combination with the de facto closure of the Suez Canal to container traffic, has had serious consequences for ocean commerce, increasing rates, fees and transit times. 39:30 Daniel Maffei: Now, fortunately, Panama's 2024 rainy season has, for now, alleviated the most acute water supply issues at the canal, and normal transit volumes have been restored. That said, while the Panamanian government and Canal Authority have, with the advice of the US Army Corps of Engineers, developed credible plans to mitigate future water shortages, they also warned that it is likely that at least one more period of reduced transits will occur before these plans can be fully implemented. 41:55 Eugene Kontorovich: We shall see that under international law, each party to the treaty is entitled to determine for itself whether a violation has occurred. Now, in exchange for the United States ceding control of the canal which it built and maintained, Panama agreed to a special regime of neutrality. The essential features of this regime of neutrality is that the canal must be open to all nations for transit. That's Article Two. Equitable tolls and fees, Article Three. An exclusive Panamanian operation, Article Five. The prohibition of any foreign military presence, Article Five. Article Five provides that only Panama shall operate the canal. Testifying about the meaning of the treaty at the Senate ratification hearings, the Carter administration emphasized that this prohibits foreign operation of the canal, as well as the garrisoning of foreign troops. Now, Article Five appears to be primarily concerned about control by foreign sovereigns. If Panama signed a treaty with the People's Republic of China, whereby the latter would operate the canal on Panama's behalf, this would be a clear violation. But what if Panama contracted for port operations with a Chinese state firm, or even a private firm influenced or controlled in part by the Chinese government? The Suez Canal Company was itself, before being nationalized, a private firm in which the United Kingdom was only a controlling shareholder. Yet this was understood to represent British control over the canal. In other words, a company need not be owned by the government to be in part controlled by the government. So the real question is the degree of de jure or de facto control over a Foreign Sovereign company, and scenarios range from government companies in an authoritarian regime, completely controlled, to purely private firms in our open society like the United States, but there's many possible situations in the middle. The treaty is silent on the question of how much control is too much, and as we'll see, this is one of the many questions committed to the judgment and discretion of each party. Now turning to foreign security forces, the presence of third country troops would manifestly violate Article Five. But this does not mean that anything short of a People's Liberation Army base flying a red flag is permissible. The presence of foreign security forces could violate the regime of neutrality, even if they're not represented in organized and open military formations. Modern warfare has seen belligerent powers seek to evade international legal limitations by disguising their actions in civilian garb, from Russia's notorious little green men to Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals or disguised as journalists. Bad actors seek to exploit the fact that international treaties focus on sovereign actors. Many of China's man made islands in the South China Sea began as civilian projects before being suddenly militarized. Indeed, this issue was discussed in the Senate ratification hearings over the treaty. Dean Rusk said informal forces would be prohibited under the treaty. Thus the ostensible civilian character of the Chinese presence around the canal does not, in itself, mean that it could not represent a violation of the treaty if, for example, these companies and their employees involved Chinese covert agents or other agents of the Chinese security forces. So this leads us to the final question, Who determines whether neutrality is being threatened or compromised? Unlike many other treaties that provide for third party dispute resolution, the neutrality treaty has no such provision. Instead, the treaty makes clear that each party determines for itself the existence of a violation. Article Four provides that each party is separately authorized to maintain the regime of neutrality, making a separate obligation of each party. The Senate's understanding accompanying to ratification also made clear that Article Five allows each party to take, quote, "unilateral action." Senator Jacob Javits, at the markup hearing, said that while the word unilateral is abrasive, we can quote, "decide that the regime of neutrality is being threatened and then act with whatever means are necessary to keep the canal neutral unilaterally." 46:35 Joseph Kramek: My name is Joe Kramek. I'm President and CEO of the World Shipping Council. The World Shipping Council is the global voice of liner shipping. Our membership consists of 90% of the world's liner shipping tonnage, which are container vessels and vehicle carriers. They operate on fixed schedules to provide our customers with regular service to ship their goods in ports throughout the world. 47:15 Joseph Kramek: As you have heard, using the Panama Canal to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific saves significant time and money. A typical voyage from Asia to the US or East Coast can be made in under 30 days using the canal, while the same journey can take up to 40 days if carriers must take alternate routes. From a commercial trade perspective, the big picture is this. One of the world's busiest trade lanes is the Trans Pacific. The Trans Pacific is cargo coming from and going to Asia via the United States. Focusing in a bit, cargo coming from Asia and bound for US Gulf and East Coast ports always transits the Panama Canal. Similarly, cargo being exported from US and East Coast ports, a large share of which are US Agricultural exports, like soybeans, corn, cotton, livestock and dairy also almost always transits the Panama Canal. The result is that 75% of Canal traffic originates in or is bound for the United States. 48:55 Joseph Kramek: We've talked about the drought in 2023 and the historic low water levels that it caused in Lake Gatún, which feeds the canal locks, a unique system that is a fresh water feed, as contrasted to an ocean to ocean system, which the French tried and failed, but which is actually active in the Suez Canal. These low water levels reduced transits from 36 transits a day to as low as 22 per day. Additionally, the low water levels required a reduction in maximum allowable draft levels, or the depth of the ship below the water line, which for our members reduced the amount of containers they could carry through the canal. This resulted in a 10% reduction in import volumes for US Gulf and East Coast ports, with the Port of Houston experiencing a 26.7% reduction. 51:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Are you aware of allegations from some vessel operators of disparate treatment such as sweetheart deals or favorable rebates by Panama for canal transits? Louis Sola: Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman, we have become aware through some complaints by cruise lines that said that they were not getting a refund of their canal tolls. When we looked into this, we found a Panamanian Executive Order, Decree 73, that specifically says that if a cruise line would stop at a certain port, that they could be refunded 100% of the fees. And as far as I know, that's the only instant where that exists. 53:05 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): So Panama was the very first Latin American country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, and right now, China is building a fourth bridge across the Panama Canal for car traffic and light rail. Chairman Sola, why should Chinese construction of a bridge near Panama City concern the United States? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, we all saw the tragedy that happened here in the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident and the devastation that had happened to Baltimore. We also saw recently what happened in the Suez Canal, where we had a ship get stuck in there. It's not only the construction of the bridge, but it's a removal of a bridge, as I understand it, called the Bridge of the Americas. It was built in 1961 and that would paralyze cargo traffic in and out of the canals. 53:55 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama also recently renewed the concessions for two container ports to a Chinese company, Hutchison Ports PPC. Of course, Chinese companies are controlled by the Communist Party. How does China use control of those ports for economic gain? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, I am a regulator, a competition regulator. And the Chinese ports that you're referring to, let me put them into scope. The one on the Pacific, the Port of Balboa, is roughly the same size as the Port of Houston. They do about 4 million containers a year. They have about 28 game tree cranes. The one on the Atlantic is the same as my hometown in Miami, they do about 1 million containers. So where Roger Gunther in the Port of Houston generates about $1 billion a year and Heidi Webb in Miami does about $200 million, the Panama ports company paid 0 for 20 years on that concession. So it's really hard to compete against zero. So I think that's our concern, our economic concern, that we would have. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Commissioner Maffei, anything to add on that? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, I do too also think it is important. I would point out that you don't have to stop at either port. It's not like these two ports control the entrance to the canal. That is the Canal Authority that does control that. However, I think it's of concern. I would also point out that the Panamanian government thinks it's of concern too, because they're conducting their own audit of those particular deals, but we remain very interested as well. 56:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Would the facts discussed here be considered violations of the neutrality treaty in force right now between the United States and Panama? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think Senator, I think potentially they could, but it's impossible to say definitively without knowing more, in particular, about the degree of Chinese control and involvement in these companies. I think it's important to note that these port operation companies that operate the ports on both sides, when they received their first contract, it was just a few months before Hong Kong was handed over to China. In other words, they received them as British companies, sort of very oddly, just a few months before the handover. Now, of course, since then, Hong Kong has been incorporated into China, has been placed under a special national security regime, and the independence of those companies has been greatly abridged, to say nothing of state owned companies involved elsewhere in in the canal area, which raised significantly greater questions. Additionally, I should point out that the understandings between President Carter and Panamanian leader Herrera, which were attached to the treaty and form part of the treaty, provide that the United States can, quote, "defend the canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality," and I understand that as providing some degree of preemptive authority to intervene. One need not wait until the canal is actually closed by some act of sabotage or aggression, which, as we heard from the testimony, would be devastating to the United States, but there is some incipient ability to address potential violations. 58:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): If the United States determines that Panama is in violation of the treaty, what is the range of remedies the United States would have for that treaty violation? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think it may be shocking to people to hear today, but when one goes over the ratification history and the debates and discussions in this body over this treaty, it was clear that the treaty was understood as giving both sides, separately, the right to resort to use armed force to enforce the provisions of the treaty. And it's not so surprising when one understands that the United States made an extraordinary concession to Panama by transferring this canal, which the United States built at great expense and maintained and operated to Panama, gratis. And in exchange, it received a kind of limitation, a permanent limitation on Panamanians sovereignty, that Panama agreed that the United States could enforce this regime of neutrality by force. Now, of course, armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute and should not be arrived at sort of rationally or before negotiations and other kinds of good offices are exhausted, but it's quite clear that the treaty contemplates that as a remedy for violations. 1:03:20 Louis Sola: I believe that the security of the canal has always been understood to be provided by the United States. Panama does not have a military, and I always believed that there's been a close relationship with Southern Command that we would provide that. And it would be nice to see if we had a formalization of that in one way or another, because I don't believe that it's in the treaty at all. 1:05:05 Daniel Maffei: While we were down there, both of us heard, I think, several times, that the Panamanians would, the ones we talked to anyway, would welcome US companies coming in and doing a lot of this work. Frankly, their bids are not competitive with the Chinese bids. Frankly, they're not that existent because US companies can make more money doing things other places, but even if they were existent, it is difficult to put competitive bids when the Chinese bids are so heavily subsidized by China. 1:06:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): What would China's incentive be to heavily subsidize those bids to undercut American companies and other companies? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, it's not a real short answer, but Senator, China's made no secret of its ambitious policies to gain influence of ports throughout the globe. It's invested in 129 ports in dozens of countries. It runs a majority of 17 ports, that does not include this Hong Kong company, right? So that's just directly Chinese-owned ports. So it has been a part of their Belt and Road strategy, whatever you want to call it, the Maritime Silk Road, for decades. So they believe that this influence, this investment in owning maritime ports is important to their economy. 1:07:05 Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): In 2021, Hutchison was awarded those two ports, Port Balboa and Port Cristobal, in a no-bid award process. Can you tell me, does the United States have any authority or recourse with the Panama Canal Authority under our current agreement with Panama to rebid those terminal concession contracts. And perhaps Mr. Kantorovich, that's more in your purview? Louis Sola: Senator, both of those ports were redone for 25 years, until 2047, I believe. And they have to pay $7 million is what the ongoing rate is for the Port of Houston- and the Port of Miami-sized concessions. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): And it can't be rebid until after that date? Louis Sola: Well, I believe that that's what the comptroller's office is auditing both of those ports and that contract. That was done under the previous Panamanian administration. A new administration came in, and they called for an audit of that contract immediately. 1:20:10 Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Are the companies now controlling both sides of the Panama Canal, the Chinese companies, subject to the PRC national security laws that mandate cooperation with the military, with state intelligence agencies. Does anyone know that? Eugene Kontorovich: They're subject all the time. They're subject to those laws all the time by virtue of being Hong Kong companies. And you know, they face, of course, consequences for not complying with the wishes of the Chinese government. One of the arguments -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Wouldn't that be a violation of the treaty? And isn't that a huge risk to us right now that the Chinese -- Eugene Kontorovich: That is a threat to the neutrality -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): If they invaded Taiwan, invaded the Philippines, they could go to these two companies saying, Hey, shut it down, make it hard, sink a ship in the canal. And wouldn't they be obligated to do that under Chinese law if they were ordered to by the PLA or the CCP? Eugene Kontorovich: I don't know if they'd be obligated, but certainly the People's Republic of China would have many tools of leverage and pressure on these companies. That's why the treaty specifically says that we can act not just to end actual obstructions to the canal. We don't have to wait until the canal is closed by hostile military action. Thatwould be a suicide pact, that would be catastrophic for us, but rather that we can respond at the inchoate, incipient level to threats, and then this is up to the president to determine whether this is significantly robust to constitute -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): So aren't we kind of walking up to the idea of a suicide pact, because we've got two big Chinese companies on both ends of the Panama Canal, who, if there's a war in INDOPACOM, Taiwan that involves us and China, these companies would be obligated to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party and PLA? I mean, are we kind of walking up to a very significant national security threat already? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, certainly, there's a threat. And I think what makes the action of the Chinese government so difficult to respond to, but important to respond to, is that they conceal this in sort of levels of gray without direct control. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Let me ask you on that topic, as my last question, Professor, let's assume that we find out. And again, it wouldn't be surprising. I think you can almost assume it that these two companies have Chinese spies or military officials within the ranks of the employees of the companies. Let's assume we found that out, somehow that becomes public. But I don't think it's a big assumption. It's probably true right now. So you have spies and military personnel within the ranks of these two companies that are controlling both ends of the Panama Canal for you, Professor, and Chairman Sola, wouldn't that be a blatant violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty, if that were true, which probably is true? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, I do think it would be a clear violation. As former Secretary of State, Dean Ross said at the ratification hearings, informal forces can violate Article Five as well as formal forces. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Is there any evidence of Chinese spies or other nefarious Chinese actors embedded in these companies? Louis Sola: Senator, we have no information of that. That's not under the purview of -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): But you agree that would be a violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty? Louis Sola: I do. 1:26:25 Daniel Maffei: Senator Sullivan was talking about Hutchison Ports. That's actually the same company that runs terminals on both ends of the canal. I am concerned about that. However, if we want to be concerned about that, all of us should lose a lot more sleep than we're losing because if there are spies there, then there might be spies at other Hutchinson ports, and there are other Hutchinson ports in almost every part of the world. They own the largest container port in the United Kingdom, Felix Dow, which is responsible for nearly half of Britain's container trade. They control major maritime terminals in Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Korea and Tanzania. If owning and managing adjacent ports means that China somehow has operational control or strategic control over the Panama Canal, they also have it over the Suez, the Singapore Straits, the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. 1:35:45 Louis Sola: The fees that I think we are looking at, or have been looked at, the reason that we went there was because of the auctioning of the slots. And so what Panama did is they had a smaller percentage, maybe 20% allocation, and then they moved it up to 30% and 40% because it became a money maker for them. So as they were doing -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, let me interject here. The auctioning of the slots gives these the right to skip the queue? Louis Sola: Yes, ma'am. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, so just for the record there. Continue. Louis Sola: So the auctioning of the slots. Under maritime law, it's first come first serve, but Panama has always put a certain percentage aside, and they started to put more and more. So we got a lot of complaints. We got a lot of complaints from LNG carriers that paid $4 million to go through, and we got a lot of complaints from agriculture that didn't have the money to pay to go through, because their goods were gonna go down. So if you look at the financial statements -- I'm a nerd, I look at financial statements of everybody -- the canal increased the amount of revenue that they had from about $500 million to $1.8 billion in the last three years just because of those fees. So this is what is very concerning to us. 1:39:20 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): Do you know of any instances where the United States has been singled out or treated unfairly under the neutrality treaty in the operation of the canal? Daniel Maffei: I do not. I would add that one of the reasons why saying the US is disproportionately affected by raises in Canal fees and other kinds of fees at the canal is because the United States disproportionately utilizes the canal. 1:44:55 Louis Sola: We have a US port there, SSA, out of Washington State that I actually worked on the development of that many years ago, and helped develop that. That used to be a United States Navy submarine base, and we converted that. As far as the two ports that we have, they're completely different. One is a major infrastructure footprint, and also a container port that's moving 4 million containers a year. That's really phenomenal amount. That's more than Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and you've probably got to get Tampa and a little bit of Jacksonville in there to get that type of volume. And on the other side, we have a very small port, but it's a very strategic port on the Atlantic. So how are the operations done?I don't know how they don't make money. I mean, if you want to come right down to it, if they've been operating the port for 20 years, and they say that they haven't made any money, so they haven't been able to pay the government. That's what concerns me is I don't believe that we're on a level playing field with the American ports. 1:58:50 Eugene Kontorovich: I think the charges and fees are less of an issue because they don't discriminate across countries. We pay more because we use more, but it's not nationally discriminatory. 1:59:00 Eugene Kontorovich: The presence of Chinese companies, especially Chinese state companies, but not limited to them, do raise serious issues and concerns for the neutrality of the treaty. And I should point out, in relation to some of the earlier questioning, the canal, for purposes of the neutrality treaty, is not limited just to the actual locks of the canal and the transit of ships through the canal. According to Annex One, paragraph one of the treaty, it includes also the entrances of the canal and the territorial sea of Panama adjacent to it. So all of the activities we're talking about are within the neutrality regime, the geographic scope of the neutrality regime in the treaty. 2:00:30 Daniel Maffei: I actually have to admit, I'm a little confused as to why some of the senators asking these questions, Senator Blackburn, aren't more concerned about the biggest port in the United Kingdom being run by the Chinese. Petraeus in the port nearest Athens, one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean, is not just run by a Chinese-linked company, it's run directly by a Chinese-owned company, and I was there. So you're on to something, but if you're just focusing on Panama, that's only part. 2:01:45 Louis Sola: About a year ago, when we were having this drought issue, there was also a lot of focus on Iran and how they were funding Hamas and the Houthis because they were attacking the Red Sea. What the United States has found is that Iranian vessels are sometimes flagged by Panama in order to avoid sanctions, so that they could sell the fuel that they have, and then they can take that money and then they can use it as they wish. Panama, at the time, had a very complicated process to de-flag the vessels. There was an investigation, there was an appeals process. By the time that OFAC or Treasury would go ahead and identify one of those vessels, by the time that they were doing the appeals and stuff like this, they've already changed flags to somewhere else. So when we went to Panama, we met with the Panamanian president, and I must say that we were very impressed, because he was 30 minutes late, but he was breaking relations with Venezuela at the time because the election was the day before. We explained to him the situation. The very next day, we met with the maritime minister, with US embassy personnel and Panama actually adjusted their appeals process so to make it more expedient, so if the United States or OFAC would come and say that this Iranian vessel is avoiding sanctions, now we have a process in place to go ahead and do that, and 53 vessels were de-flagged because of that. 2:06:05 Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): Is there any reason that China can't watch or do whatever they want from this bridge to get the intel from these containers? And does that concern anybody? Louis Sola: Well, it definitely concerns Southern Command, because they've brought it up on numerous occasions that there could be some sort of surveillance or something like that on the bridges. 2:20:30 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): We segregate ourselves artificially in a way that they do not. We segregate ourselves. Let's talk about military. Let's talk about intelligence. Let's talk about economics. They don't. China doesn't work that way. It's a whole of government approach. They don't draw a delineation between an economics discussion and a military one. And their attack may not look like Pearl Harbor. It may look like an everyday ship that decides, you know, it pulls into the locks and blows itself up. And now the locks are non-functional for our usage, and we can't support an inter ocean fleet transfer, and our ability to defend it, as you referred to Chairman, is now inhibited by the fact that we no longer have the military infrastructure around the canal that we did just as recently as 1999. 2:21:10 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): So from a commercial perspective, do the shipping companies have concerns over the security of the narrow waterways? We've the Strait to Malacca, we've got the Suez Canal, we've got Gibraltar, we've got Panama. Is that a concern that's thrown around in the boardrooms of the largest shipping corporations in the world? Joseph Kramek: Senator, I think it's something they think about every day. I mean, really, it's drawn into sharp relief with the Red Sea. It was what I call a pink flamingo. There's black swans that just come up and there's pink flamingos that you can see, but you don't act. But no one really thought a whole lot that one of the most important waterways in the world could be denied, and moreover, that it could be denied for such a sustained period. The good news is that -- Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): And denied, I might add, by a disaffected non-state actor of Bedouins running around with rocket launchers, who also managed to beat us in a 20 year war in Afghanistan. My point to saying all this is we're just debating operational control of the canal, yet it seems very clear to all of us that a very simple act can debilitate the canal and eliminate our ability to use it in a matter of minutes with no warning, and we have no ability to intervene or stop that. To me, that means we do not have operational control of the canal. 2:30:40 Daniel Maffei: I will say that certainly we need to look at other kinds of ways to get US companies in positions where they can truly compete with the Chinese on some of these things. Blaming it all on Panama really misses the point. I've seen the same thing in Greece, where Greece didn't want to give the concession of its largest port to a Chinese company, but because of its financial difficulties, it was getting pressure from international organizations such the IMF, Europe and even maybe some of the United States to do so. So I just ask you to look at that. 2:31:20 Daniel Maffei: Panamanians are making far more on their canal than they ever have before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's going to the right place. But where they're really making the money is on these auctions, and that is why it remains a concern of mine and I'm sure the chairman's. That is where we are looking at, potentially, using our authority under Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act where we could, if we can show that it is a problem with the foreign trade of the US, it's interfering with foreign trade of the US, there are certain things that we can do. Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 15, 2024 Clips 4:01:40 Marco Rubio: The thing with Panama on the canal is not new. I visited there. It was 2016. I think I've consistently seen people express concern about it, and it's encapsulized here in quote after quote. Let me tell you the former US ambassador who served under President Obama said: "the Chinese see in Panama what we saw in Panama throughout the 20th century, a maritime and aviation logistics hub." The immediate past head of Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, said, "I was just in Panama about a month ago and flying along the Panama Canal and looking at the state owned enterprises from the People's Republic of China on each side of the Panama Canal. They look like civilian companies or state owned enterprises that could be used for dual use and could be quickly changed over to a military capability." We see questions that were asked by the ranking member in the house China Select Committee, where he asked a witness and they agreed that in a time of conflict, China could use its presence on both ends of the canal as a choke point against the United States in a conflict situation. So the concerns about Panama have been expressed by people on both sides of the aisle for at least the entire time that I've been in the United States Senate, and they've only accelerated further. And this is a very legitimate issue that we face there. I'm not prepared to answer this question because I haven't looked at the legal research behind it yet, but I'm compelled to suspect that an argument could be made that the terms under which that canal were turned over have been violated. Because while technically, sovereignty over the canal has not been turned over to a foreign power, in reality, a foreign power today possesses, through their companies, which we know are not independent, the ability to turn the canal into a choke point in a moment of conflict. And that is a direct threat to the national interest and security the United States, and is particularly galling given the fact that we paid for it and that 5,000 Americans died making it. That said, Panama is a great partner on a lot of other issues, and I hope we can resolve this issue of the canal and of its security, and also continue to work with them cooperatively on a host of issues we share in common, including what to do with migration. 4:38:35 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): Now, President Trump has recently talked a little bit about the fact that there are some questions arising about the status of the Panama Canal. When we look to the treaty at issue, the treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal, we're reminded that some things maybe aren't quite as they should be there right now. Given that the Chinese now control major ports at the entry and the exit to the canal, it seems appropriate to say that there's at least an open question. There's some doubt as to whether the canal remains neutral. Would you agree with that assessment? Marco Rubio: Yes. Here's the challenge. Number one, I want to be clear about something. The Panamanian government, particularly its current office holders, are very friendly to the United States and very cooperative, and we want that to continue, and I want to bifurcate that from the broader issue of the canal. Now I am not, President Trump is not inventing this. This is something that's existed now for at least a decade. In my service here, I took a trip to Panama in 2017. When on that trip to Panama in 2017 it was the central issue we discussed about the canal, and that is that Chinese companies control port facilities at both ends of the canal, the east and the west, and the concerns among military officials and security officials, including in Panama, at that point, that that could one day be used as a choke point to impede commerce in a moment of conflict. Going back to that I -- earlier before you got here, and I don't want to have to dig through this folder to find it again, but -- basically cited how the immediate past head of Southern Command, just retired general Richardson, said she flew over the canal, looked down and saw those Chinese port facilities, and said Those look like dual use facilities that in a moment of conflict, could be weaponized against us. The bipartisan China commission over in the House last year, had testimony and hearings on this issue, and members of both parties expressed concern. The former ambassador to Panama under President Obama has expressed those concerns. This is a legitimate issue that needs to be confronted. The second point is the one you touched upon, and that is, look, could an argument be made, and I'm not prepared to answer it yet, because it's something we're going to have to study very carefully. But I think I have an inkling of I know where this is going to head. Can an argument be made that the Chinese basically have effective control of the canal anytime they want? Because if they order a Chinese company that controls the ports to shut it down or impede our transit, they will have to do so. There are no independent Chinese companies. They all exist because they've been identified as national champions. They're supported by the Chinese government. And if you don't do what they want, they find a new CEO, and you end up being replaced and removed. So they're under the complete control of their government. This is a legitimate question, and one that Senators Risch had some insight as well. He mentioned that in passing that needs to be looked at. This is not a joke. The Panama Canal issue is a very serious one. 4:44:30 Marco Rubio: In 2016 and 2017 that was well understood that part of the investments they made in Panama were conditioned upon Panama's ability to convince the Dominican Republic and other countries to flip their recognition away from Taiwan. That happened. Jen Briney's Recent Guest Appearances Travis Makes Money: Give and Take: Music by Editing Production Assistance

Many of us take turning on a light switch or connecting our devices to a home Wi-Fi network for granted. If our phones need charging, we plug them in, if we want hot water we boil a kettle. These are things we don't think about, because we don't have to. But around 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa still live without access to electricity. In this episode of The Development Podcast, we look at Mission 300, an ambitious plan from the World Bank Group and partners, which will link 300 million people to electricity by 2030. SpeakersAjay Banga, President, World Bank Group Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania Victoria Kwakwa, Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank Group Andrew Herscowitz, the CEO of Mission 300 Accelerator, established by Rockefeller Catalytic Capital Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO, Axian Group Klaartje Schnade, Co-founder, Mwani Zanzibar Nora Anyidoho, Ghanian Poet Timestamps[00:00] Introducing the topic: Powering Development in Sub-Saharan Africa[03:33] Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit[06:28] The link between electrification and jobs: Visions of an entrepreneur in Zanzibar[10:50] Achieving the Mission 300 target[14:21] Partnerships are key to achieving the targets set by the Mission 300 plan[20:13] The private sector is a crucial part of the energy puzzle[28:12] Poem from Ghanaian poet, Nora AnyidohoABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;) Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

Jon Hartley and Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler discuss the stance of monetary policy, the Federal Reserve balance sheet, the natural rate of interest (r-star), inflation, labor markets, productivity, entrepreneurship, the US economy, and the recent growth in Miami. Recorded on February 7, 2025. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Dr. Adriana D. Kugler took office as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on September 13, 2023, to fill an unexpired term ending January 31, 2026. Prior to her appointment on the Board, Dr. Kugler served as the U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank Group. She is on leave from Georgetown University where she is a professor of Public Policy and Economics and was vice provost for faculty. Previously, she served as chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor from 2011 to 2013. Dr. Kugler was also a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and of the Center for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at Stanford University. Dr. Kugler's other professional appointments include being the elected chair of the Business and Economics Statistics Section of the American Statistical Association. She was also a member of the Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy of the National Academies of Sciences and served on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dr. Kugler received a BA in economics and political science from McGill University and a PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Jon Hartley is the host of the Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century Podcast at the Hoover Institution and an economics PhD Candidate at Stanford University, where he specializes in finance, labor economics, and macroeconomics. He is also currently an Affiliated Scholar at the Mercatus Center, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), and a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Jon is also a member of the Canadian Group of Economists, and serves as chair of the Economic Club of Miami. Jon has previously worked at Goldman Sachs Asset Management as well as in various policy roles at the World Bank, IMF, Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, US Congress Joint Economic Committee, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Bank of Canada.  Jon has also been a regular economics contributor for National Review Online, Forbes, and The Huffington Post and has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Globe and Mail, National Post, and Toronto Star among other outlets. Jon has also appeared on CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, Bloomberg, and NBC, and was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 Law & Policy list, the 2017 Wharton 40 Under 40 list, and was previously a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. ABOUT THE SERIES: Each episode of Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century, a video podcast series and the official podcast of the Hoover Economic Policy Working Group, focuses on getting into the weeds of economics, finance, and public policy on important current topics through one-on-one interviews. Host Jon Hartley asks guests about their main ideas and contributions to academic research and policy. The podcast is titled after Milton Friedman‘s famous 1962 bestselling book Capitalism and Freedom, which after 60 years, remains prescient from its focus on various topics which are now at the forefront of economic debates, such as monetary policy and inflation, fiscal policy, occupational licensing, education vouchers, income share agreements, the distribution of income, and negative income taxes, among many other topics. For more information, visit: capitalismandfreedom.substack.com/

Sovereign debt crises have surged since the end of the Bretton Woods system and currently threaten a lost decade for many countries across the world. Indermit Gill, in the World Bank Group's 2024 International Debt Report, describes the situation in many of the poorest countries as a ‘metastasising solvency crisis that continues to be misdiagnosed as a liquidity problem'. Despite their severe socioeconomic consequences, no comprehensive legal framework exists to address these crises—arguably the most significant gap in international economic law.This lecture, based on Dr Karina Patrício Ferreira Lima's forthcoming book Governing Sovereign Debt Crises: The Case for International Sovereign Insolvency Law (Hart Publishing), makes the case for creating such a mechanism under international law. The book challenges prevailing narratives that attribute sovereign debt crises solely to debtor states' mismanagement or misfortunes, instead arguing that sovereign insolvency is a systemic feature of the international monetary system. Current solutions—voluntary, ad hoc, and fragmented—fail to equitably allocate losses across an increasingly diversified sovereign creditor base, leaving many creditors worse off. At the same time, debtor states and their populations remain vulnerable to macroeconomic crises and enduring austerity, which often lead to long-term economic stagnation.The book adopts a legal political economy approach to illustrate how power asymmetries among stakeholders and the absence of enforceable rules perpetuate inefficiencies and inequities in resolving sovereign debt crises. Drawing on the legal theory of finance, insolvency law, and common resource governance theory, it illustrates how these governance failures result in a dual tragedy: a tragedy of the commons and a tragedy of the anticommons. The lecture will also examine the growing complexity of sovereign debt markets, including the diversification of creditor types, the erosion of ‘gentlemen's agreements,' and the limitations of initiatives like the Paris Club and the G20's Common Framework for debt treatments. It concludes by arguing that only international sovereign insolvency rules can resolve the delays, inefficiencies, and inequities that plague sovereign debt restructuring, while exploring avenues for implementing such a proceeding and discussing the role of domestic law in a well-functioning international sovereign debt architecture.Dr Karina Patrício Ferreira Lima is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on the intersection of law, finance, and sovereign debt within the broader context of global economic governance. Her research portfolio covers the legal governance of sovereign debt crises, the law and policy of international financial institutions, and the macroeconomic impact of financial law and regulation.Dr Patrício advises public entities, NGOs, and leading law firms on various aspects of financial and monetary law, including sovereign debt restructuring, financial regulation, and the governance of international financial institutions. Her work has been recognised with prestigious awards, including the 2022 Society of International Economic Law-Hart Prize and the 2022 John H. Jackson Prize, conferred by the Journal of International Economic Law. She also serves as a peer reviewer for top law and social sciences journals globally.

Sovereign debt crises have surged since the end of the Bretton Woods system and currently threaten a lost decade for many countries across the world. Indermit Gill, in the World Bank Group's 2024 International Debt Report, describes the situation in many of the poorest countries as a ‘metastasising solvency crisis that continues to be misdiagnosed as a liquidity problem'. Despite their severe socioeconomic consequences, no comprehensive legal framework exists to address these crises—arguably the most significant gap in international economic law.This lecture, based on Dr Karina Patrício Ferreira Lima's forthcoming book Governing Sovereign Debt Crises: The Case for International Sovereign Insolvency Law (Hart Publishing), makes the case for creating such a mechanism under international law. The book challenges prevailing narratives that attribute sovereign debt crises solely to debtor states' mismanagement or misfortunes, instead arguing that sovereign insolvency is a systemic feature of the international monetary system. Current solutions—voluntary, ad hoc, and fragmented—fail to equitably allocate losses across an increasingly diversified sovereign creditor base, leaving many creditors worse off. At the same time, debtor states and their populations remain vulnerable to macroeconomic crises and enduring austerity, which often lead to long-term economic stagnation.The book adopts a legal political economy approach to illustrate how power asymmetries among stakeholders and the absence of enforceable rules perpetuate inefficiencies and inequities in resolving sovereign debt crises. Drawing on the legal theory of finance, insolvency law, and common resource governance theory, it illustrates how these governance failures result in a dual tragedy: a tragedy of the commons and a tragedy of the anticommons. The lecture will also examine the growing complexity of sovereign debt markets, including the diversification of creditor types, the erosion of ‘gentlemen's agreements,' and the limitations of initiatives like the Paris Club and the G20's Common Framework for debt treatments. It concludes by arguing that only international sovereign insolvency rules can resolve the delays, inefficiencies, and inequities that plague sovereign debt restructuring, while exploring avenues for implementing such a proceeding and discussing the role of domestic law in a well-functioning international sovereign debt architecture.Dr Karina Patrício Ferreira Lima is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds. Her research focuses on the intersection of law, finance, and sovereign debt within the broader context of global economic governance. Her research portfolio covers the legal governance of sovereign debt crises, the law and policy of international financial institutions, and the macroeconomic impact of financial law and regulation.Dr Patrício advises public entities, NGOs, and leading law firms on various aspects of financial and monetary law, including sovereign debt restructuring, financial regulation, and the governance of international financial institutions. Her work has been recognised with prestigious awards, including the 2022 Society of International Economic Law-Hart Prize and the 2022 John H. Jackson Prize, conferred by the Journal of International Economic Law. She also serves as a peer reviewer for top law and social sciences journals globally.

Lindsey Lim is a board member at the Radix Foundation and previously senior director at Circle Internet Finance (issuer of USDC), where she led financial partnerships. Prior to this, Lindsey had a similar role at Calibra, Facebook's crypto wallet, where she focused on building a global on-ramp and off-ramp network. Lindsey also worked at the World Bank Group for over five years. She was country manager of the Philippine subsidiary of Swedish insurance tech company BIMA MILVIK, and worked at McKinsey and Citibank.You may reach Lindsey at linkedin.com/in/lindseylim. Please include a note specifying why you are reaching out.

In this episode, Aslesh and Nischal dive into Nepal's first-ever sovereign credit rating and what it means for the nation's bold economic future as it gears up to graduate from LDC status. They break down its implications on foreign investments, business opportunities, and more. From hydropower to tourism, they explore the sectors ready to thrive and the reforms needed to keep the momentum going. Nischal Dhungel is a Consultant for the World Bank Group and the Independent Evaluation Office at the Global Environment Facility in Washington, DC. He is also a Non-resident Fellow at the Nepal Institute for Policy Research. Holding an MSc in Economic Theory and Policy from Bard College, New York, he has published over 50 articles on economic issues in international and national platforms. The views expressed in this podcast are Nischal's personal views and do not reflect the views of the organization he works for or represents. If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics ( ⁠⁠https://policyentre.substack.com/welcome⁠⁠ ), and click here ( ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/podsbypei⁠⁠ ) to support us on Patreon!! 

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World Bank Group Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg tells us that the answer depends on the policy choices we make, and in The Unequal Effects of Globalization (MIT Press, 2023), she calls for exploring alternative policy approaches including place-based policies, while sustaining international cooperation. At this critical moment of shifting attitudes toward globalization, The Unequal Effects of Globalization enters the debate while also taking a step back. Goldberg investigates globalization's many dimensions, disruptions, and complex interactions, from the late twentieth century's wave of trade liberalizations to the rise of China, the decline of manufacturing in advanced economies, and the recent effects of trade on global poverty, inequality, labor markets, and firm dynamics. From there, Goldberg explores the significance of the recent backlash against and potential retreat from globalization and considers the key policy implications of these trends and emerging dynamics. As comprehensive as it is well-balanced, The Unequal Effects of Globalization is an essential read on trade and cooperation between nations that will appeal as much to academics and policymakers as it will to general readers who are interested in learning more about this timely subject. Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg is the Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and an Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She holds a joint appointment at the Yale Department of Economics and the Jackson School of Global Affairs. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Goldberg was President of the Econometric Society in 2021 and has previously served as Vice-President of the American Economic Association. From 2011-2017 she was Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review. She is member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Sloan Research Fellowships, and recipient of the Bodossaki Prize in Social Sciences. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER), research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, UK, fellow of the CESifo research network in Germany, and member of the board of directors of the Bureau of Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Interviewer Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, a nonresident scholar at the UCSD 21st Century China Center, an alumnus of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research focuses on the economics of information, incentives, and institutions, primarily as applied to the development and governance of China. He created the unique Master's of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco, which teaches the conceptual frameworks and practical data analytics skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World Bank Group Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg tells us that the answer depends on the policy choices we make, and in The Unequal Effects of Globalization (MIT Press, 2023), she calls for exploring alternative policy approaches including place-based policies, while sustaining international cooperation. At this critical moment of shifting attitudes toward globalization, The Unequal Effects of Globalization enters the debate while also taking a step back. Goldberg investigates globalization's many dimensions, disruptions, and complex interactions, from the late twentieth century's wave of trade liberalizations to the rise of China, the decline of manufacturing in advanced economies, and the recent effects of trade on global poverty, inequality, labor markets, and firm dynamics. From there, Goldberg explores the significance of the recent backlash against and potential retreat from globalization and considers the key policy implications of these trends and emerging dynamics. As comprehensive as it is well-balanced, The Unequal Effects of Globalization is an essential read on trade and cooperation between nations that will appeal as much to academics and policymakers as it will to general readers who are interested in learning more about this timely subject. Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg is the Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and an Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She holds a joint appointment at the Yale Department of Economics and the Jackson School of Global Affairs. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Goldberg was President of the Econometric Society in 2021 and has previously served as Vice-President of the American Economic Association. From 2011-2017 she was Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review. She is member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Sloan Research Fellowships, and recipient of the Bodossaki Prize in Social Sciences. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER), research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, UK, fellow of the CESifo research network in Germany, and member of the board of directors of the Bureau of Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Interviewer Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, a nonresident scholar at the UCSD 21st Century China Center, an alumnus of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research focuses on the economics of information, incentives, and institutions, primarily as applied to the development and governance of China. He created the unique Master's of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco, which teaches the conceptual frameworks and practical data analytics skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World Bank Group Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg tells us that the answer depends on the policy choices we make, and in The Unequal Effects of Globalization (MIT Press, 2023), she calls for exploring alternative policy approaches including place-based policies, while sustaining international cooperation. At this critical moment of shifting attitudes toward globalization, The Unequal Effects of Globalization enters the debate while also taking a step back. Goldberg investigates globalization's many dimensions, disruptions, and complex interactions, from the late twentieth century's wave of trade liberalizations to the rise of China, the decline of manufacturing in advanced economies, and the recent effects of trade on global poverty, inequality, labor markets, and firm dynamics. From there, Goldberg explores the significance of the recent backlash against and potential retreat from globalization and considers the key policy implications of these trends and emerging dynamics. As comprehensive as it is well-balanced, The Unequal Effects of Globalization is an essential read on trade and cooperation between nations that will appeal as much to academics and policymakers as it will to general readers who are interested in learning more about this timely subject. Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg is the Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and an Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She holds a joint appointment at the Yale Department of Economics and the Jackson School of Global Affairs. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Goldberg was President of the Econometric Society in 2021 and has previously served as Vice-President of the American Economic Association. From 2011-2017 she was Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review. She is member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Sloan Research Fellowships, and recipient of the Bodossaki Prize in Social Sciences. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER), research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, UK, fellow of the CESifo research network in Germany, and member of the board of directors of the Bureau of Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Interviewer Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, a nonresident scholar at the UCSD 21st Century China Center, an alumnus of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research focuses on the economics of information, incentives, and institutions, primarily as applied to the development and governance of China. He created the unique Master's of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco, which teaches the conceptual frameworks and practical data analytics skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World Bank Group Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg tells us that the answer depends on the policy choices we make, and in The Unequal Effects of Globalization (MIT Press, 2023), she calls for exploring alternative policy approaches including place-based policies, while sustaining international cooperation. At this critical moment of shifting attitudes toward globalization, The Unequal Effects of Globalization enters the debate while also taking a step back. Goldberg investigates globalization's many dimensions, disruptions, and complex interactions, from the late twentieth century's wave of trade liberalizations to the rise of China, the decline of manufacturing in advanced economies, and the recent effects of trade on global poverty, inequality, labor markets, and firm dynamics. From there, Goldberg explores the significance of the recent backlash against and potential retreat from globalization and considers the key policy implications of these trends and emerging dynamics. As comprehensive as it is well-balanced, The Unequal Effects of Globalization is an essential read on trade and cooperation between nations that will appeal as much to academics and policymakers as it will to general readers who are interested in learning more about this timely subject. Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg is the Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and an Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She holds a joint appointment at the Yale Department of Economics and the Jackson School of Global Affairs. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Goldberg was President of the Econometric Society in 2021 and has previously served as Vice-President of the American Economic Association. From 2011-2017 she was Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review. She is member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Sloan Research Fellowships, and recipient of the Bodossaki Prize in Social Sciences. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER), research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, UK, fellow of the CESifo research network in Germany, and member of the board of directors of the Bureau of Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Interviewer Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, a nonresident scholar at the UCSD 21st Century China Center, an alumnus of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research focuses on the economics of information, incentives, and institutions, primarily as applied to the development and governance of China. He created the unique Master's of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco, which teaches the conceptual frameworks and practical data analytics skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/public-policy

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World Bank Group Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg tells us that the answer depends on the policy choices we make, and in The Unequal Effects of Globalization (MIT Press, 2023), she calls for exploring alternative policy approaches including place-based policies, while sustaining international cooperation. At this critical moment of shifting attitudes toward globalization, The Unequal Effects of Globalization enters the debate while also taking a step back. Goldberg investigates globalization's many dimensions, disruptions, and complex interactions, from the late twentieth century's wave of trade liberalizations to the rise of China, the decline of manufacturing in advanced economies, and the recent effects of trade on global poverty, inequality, labor markets, and firm dynamics. From there, Goldberg explores the significance of the recent backlash against and potential retreat from globalization and considers the key policy implications of these trends and emerging dynamics. As comprehensive as it is well-balanced, The Unequal Effects of Globalization is an essential read on trade and cooperation between nations that will appeal as much to academics and policymakers as it will to general readers who are interested in learning more about this timely subject. Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg is the Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and an Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She holds a joint appointment at the Yale Department of Economics and the Jackson School of Global Affairs. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Goldberg was President of the Econometric Society in 2021 and has previously served as Vice-President of the American Economic Association. From 2011-2017 she was Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review. She is member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Sloan Research Fellowships, and recipient of the Bodossaki Prize in Social Sciences. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER), research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, UK, fellow of the CESifo research network in Germany, and member of the board of directors of the Bureau of Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Interviewer Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, a nonresident scholar at the UCSD 21st Century China Center, an alumnus of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research focuses on the economics of information, incentives, and institutions, primarily as applied to the development and governance of China. He created the unique Master's of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco, which teaches the conceptual frameworks and practical data analytics skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World Bank Group Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg tells us that the answer depends on the policy choices we make, and in The Unequal Effects of Globalization (MIT Press, 2023), she calls for exploring alternative policy approaches including place-based policies, while sustaining international cooperation. At this critical moment of shifting attitudes toward globalization, The Unequal Effects of Globalization enters the debate while also taking a step back. Goldberg investigates globalization's many dimensions, disruptions, and complex interactions, from the late twentieth century's wave of trade liberalizations to the rise of China, the decline of manufacturing in advanced economies, and the recent effects of trade on global poverty, inequality, labor markets, and firm dynamics. From there, Goldberg explores the significance of the recent backlash against and potential retreat from globalization and considers the key policy implications of these trends and emerging dynamics. As comprehensive as it is well-balanced, The Unequal Effects of Globalization is an essential read on trade and cooperation between nations that will appeal as much to academics and policymakers as it will to general readers who are interested in learning more about this timely subject. Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg is the Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and an Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She holds a joint appointment at the Yale Department of Economics and the Jackson School of Global Affairs. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Goldberg was President of the Econometric Society in 2021 and has previously served as Vice-President of the American Economic Association. From 2011-2017 she was Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review. She is member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Sloan Research Fellowships, and recipient of the Bodossaki Prize in Social Sciences. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER), research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, UK, fellow of the CESifo research network in Germany, and member of the board of directors of the Bureau of Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Interviewer Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, a nonresident scholar at the UCSD 21st Century China Center, an alumnus of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research focuses on the economics of information, incentives, and institutions, primarily as applied to the development and governance of China. He created the unique Master's of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco, which teaches the conceptual frameworks and practical data analytics skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World Bank Group Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg tells us that the answer depends on the policy choices we make, and in The Unequal Effects of Globalization (MIT Press, 2023), she calls for exploring alternative policy approaches including place-based policies, while sustaining international cooperation. At this critical moment of shifting attitudes toward globalization, The Unequal Effects of Globalization enters the debate while also taking a step back. Goldberg investigates globalization's many dimensions, disruptions, and complex interactions, from the late twentieth century's wave of trade liberalizations to the rise of China, the decline of manufacturing in advanced economies, and the recent effects of trade on global poverty, inequality, labor markets, and firm dynamics. From there, Goldberg explores the significance of the recent backlash against and potential retreat from globalization and considers the key policy implications of these trends and emerging dynamics. As comprehensive as it is well-balanced, The Unequal Effects of Globalization is an essential read on trade and cooperation between nations that will appeal as much to academics and policymakers as it will to general readers who are interested in learning more about this timely subject. Pinelopi (Penny) Koujianou Goldberg is the Elihu Professor of Economics and Global Affairs and an Affiliate of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She holds a joint appointment at the Yale Department of Economics and the Jackson School of Global Affairs. From 2018 to 2020, she was the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Goldberg was President of the Econometric Society in 2021 and has previously served as Vice-President of the American Economic Association. From 2011-2017 she was Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review. She is member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Sloan Research Fellowships, and recipient of the Bodossaki Prize in Social Sciences. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research (NBER), research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in London, UK, fellow of the CESifo research network in Germany, and member of the board of directors of the Bureau of Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Interviewer Peter Lorentzen is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco, a nonresident scholar at the UCSD 21st Century China Center, an alumnus of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research focuses on the economics of information, incentives, and institutions, primarily as applied to the development and governance of China. He created the unique Master's of Science in Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco, which teaches the conceptual frameworks and practical data analytics skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the world approaches the quarter way point of the 21st century, we take stock of the last year in development and the challenges ahead. And we return to the work of the International Development Association (IDA), in verse. Join us as we hear from Ayhan Kose, Deputy Chief Economist of the World Bank Group and Director of the Prospects Group, and Emi Mahmoud, Poet, activist and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction to the topic[03:45] Global economy and growth despite intertwined challenges[06:47] Eradicating poverty and boosting shared prosperity on a livable planet[11:43] Biggest challenges facing low-income countries[15:32] 2025: Hopes for the next year[21:22] Emi Mahmoud, Sudanese activist spoken word poet and UNHCR Goodwill AmbassadorABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;) Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

This week, we take a look at the Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance, known as CIVIC, a new, forthcoming World Bank Group initiative designed to support civil society organizations and social economy players. This venture seeks to foster more collaboration in line with the bank's localization agenda, enabling civil society to play a crucial role in addressing global challenges. On the topic of the World Bank, the financial institution announced $23.7 billion in contributions to the International Development Association, or IDA, the bank's fund for providing grants and low-interest loans to 78 low-income countries. This is a 0.8% increase from the last replenishment of $23.5 billion in 2022 but falls short of the $27 billion that some advocates had hoped for. We also discuss the Lobito corridor, which will connect Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo via a rail that runs to the Lobito port in Angola. With many seeing it as a key initiative in the U.S.' efforts to counter China's growing influence, we discuss the chances of it continuing under the Trump administration. To dig into these stories, Devex's Michael Igoe sits down with Aly Rahim, program manager of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability at the World Bank, and Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger for the latest episode of our weekly podcast series. Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters: https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters

In this episode, Lauren welcomes a very special guest; Dr. Jim Yong Kim, partner, vice chairman, and Global Infrastructure Partners (a part of BlackRock) emerging markets chairman as well as former President of the World Bank Group and director of the World Health Organization's HIV/AIDS department. Dr. Kim's background growing up in Iowa with Korean immigrant parents shaped his practical and moral approach to tackling complex global challenges. His dual MD-PhD training in medicine and anthropology allowed him to bridge the social sciences and practical applications, leading him to co-found the groundbreaking organization Partners in Health. At Partners in Health, Dr. Kim emphasized the importance of accompaniment and community health workers in providing equitable, effective care for the world's poorest populations. After serving as President of Dartmouth College, Dr. Kim was nominated by President Obama to lead the World Bank, where he applied his on-the-ground experience and commitment to moral leadership. Dr. Kim emphasizes the value of lifelong learning, humility, and learning from others as key aspects of effective leadership. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-reflections-on-40-years-in-global-health-with-dr-jim-yong-kim/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at CPH-GradAmbassador@uiowa.edu You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks.

While the African continent has seen significant economic growth in recent years, it continues to grapple with critical infrastructure challenges that hamper business expansion, service delivery, trade, investment, as well as sustainable development.  In the latest episode of This Week in Global Development, Devex Executive Vice President Kate Warren speaks with Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50, during the 2024 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. Since its launch seven years ago, Africa50 has emerged as a key player in bridging the infrastructure gap across the continent, focusing on project development to create a pipeline of bankable projects. Listen to the podcast episode for the full interview, where Warren and Ebobissé discuss the future of infrastructure in Africa, the importance of climate being built into infrastructure projects, and innovative strategies being employed to create lasting impact across the continent.

The International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group 2024 Annual Meetings marked a turn of the page to the next phase of our mission: Ensuring job creation—and employment—are not the byproduct of our projects but an explicit aim of them. In this latest episode of The Development Podcast, we draw on some of the highlights from the Annual Meetings, as well as announcements on creating a new eco-system for agribusiness and boosting economic opportunities for more women. We hear from Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group; Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance for Zambia; Mabouba Diagne, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Livestock in Senegal; Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President and CEO of the ONE Campaign; Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister and Secretary General at the Presidency of Togo; Adebayo Olawale Edun, Nigeria's Minister of Finance; and Raj Kumar, President & Editor-in-Chief at Devex. Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic[01:33] World Bank's evolution process towards a bigger, better Bank[04:35] Agriculture and food as an engine of sustainable growth and jobs[08:17] Accelerating women's economic opportunities[11:58] Jobs creation, International Development Association, World Bank Group scorecard[15:03] IDA21 replenishment[17:51] Highlights and announcements[21:04] Cooperation between the Global North and the Global South[23:03] Climate change and COP29ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;) Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

In this episode of The Banker's Bookshelf, host Paolo Sironi and guest Khrystyna Kushnir discuss insights from the IBM report, Banking for Small and Medium Enterprises: Serving the World Economy. The report highlights the evolving needs of SMEs, including access to finance, market entry, and business support, with a notable focus on technology integration. While bankers emphasize branch accessibility and app usability, SMEs seek personalized solutions, ecosystem integration, and super apps that address both banking and business needs. Key differences across regions are highlighted, such as the U.S. focus on branch access versus India's emphasis on mobile apps, influenced by government-led digital adoption. Both bankers and SMEs agree on the value of instant payments and cash flow forecasting, while SMEs also prioritize fraud monitoring and regulatory support. The episode underscores the role of AI in risk management and invites listeners to read the report, available at: https://www.ibm.com/downloads/documents/us-en/10c31775c8d402bb ‌ Khrystyna Kushnir is an Operations Officer with the International Finance Corporation's Corporate Strategic Initiatives, Analytics, Learning, and Knowledge Management group. She initially joined IFC in 2018 as the Knowledge Management and Content Lead for the SME Finance Forum, focusing on small business research. Previously, Khrystyna held research positions at the World Bank Group, which she joined in 2010. Her earlier professional experience includes roles with the European Union, a Japanese consulting firm, and a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. Khrystyna holds an M.A. in International Economic Relations from American University, where she studied as a Fulbright scholar. Connect now: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khrystyna-kushnir/ ‌ Paolo Sironi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepsironi/

The World Bank Group forecasts that oil and commodity prices as a whole will continue to fall next year, in a new "Commodity Markets Outlook" published this Tuesday. The World Bank's Deputy Chief Economist, Ayhan Kose, speaks to FRANCE 24 about the report's findings and what they could mean, especially for developing economies.

Jon Hartley and David Malpass discuss David's career, and his service in government, including his time as president of the World Bank Group. They also discuss the changing role of China in international finance as well as the IMF and World Bank responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 sovereign debt relief (Debt Service Suspension Initiative or DSSI)),and  how the early 2020s inflation has impacted developing countries, economic growth, and climate policy. Recorded on September 20, 2024. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: David Malpass served as the 13th president of the World Bank Group. Prior to his appointment at the World Bank, David served as Undersecretary of the US Treasury for international affairs during the Trump administration. Before joining the US Treasury, David founded and led a macroeconomics research firm based in New York City.  He has also served as chief economist of Bear Stearns, where conducted financial analyses of countries around the world. Earlier in his career, David served in various roles at the Treasury during the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations as well as in the US Senate working on the Budget Committee and Joint Economic Committee. Jon Hartley is a Research Assistant at the Hoover Institution and an economics PhD Candidate at Stanford University, where he specializes in finance, labor economics, and macroeconomics. He is also currently a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) and a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Jon is also a member of the Canadian Group of Economists, and serves as chair of the Economic Club of Miami. Jon has previously worked at Goldman Sachs Asset Management as well as in various policy roles at the World Bank, IMF, Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, US Congress Joint Economic Committee, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Bank of Canada.  Jon has also been a regular economics contributor for National Review Online, Forbes, and The Huffington Post and has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Globe and Mail, National Post, and Toronto Star among other outlets. Jon has also appeared on CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, Bloomberg, and NBC, and was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 Law & Policy list, the 2017 Wharton 40 Under 40 list, and was previously a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. ABOUT THE SERIES: Each episode of Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century, a video podcast series and the official podcast of the Hoover Economic Policy Working Group, focuses on getting into the weeds of economics, finance, and public policy on important current topics through one-on-one interviews. Host Jon Hartley asks guests about their main ideas and contributions to academic research and policy. The podcast is titled after Milton Friedman‘s famous 1962 bestselling book Capitalism and Freedom, which after 60 years, remains prescient from its focus on various topics which are now at the forefront of economic debates, such as monetary policy and inflation, fiscal policy, occupational licensing, education vouchers, income share agreements, the distribution of income, and negative income taxes, among many other topics. For more information, visit: capitalismandfreedom.substack.com/

The World Bank Group released its new Gender Strategy earlier this year with three key aims: ending gender-based violence, expanding economic opportunities, and engaging more women as leaders. But how will the bank achieve these lofty aims? Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with the bank's Global Director for Gender Hana Brixi for our latest podcast to learn about how this new plan will be implemented and what exactly is changing. “The World Bank Group is at a very historic moment at the time. It is the first time ever to have a strategy for the World Bank Group to engage with such a strong ambition, and also a commitment to engage differently for better gender equality and really to accelerate progress,” Brixi tells Adva. The “full engagement of women” is key to ending poverty, and without ending gender-based violence that will be impossible, she adds. It's less about new programs or specific new funding but integrating stronger emphasis on gender throughout everything the World Bank does. It will also mean making the case to countries about why they should address gender issues as a matter of economic policy. Not everyone is convinced about all aspects of the strategy. Mary Borrowman, a policy fellow in the Gender Equality and Inclusion program at the Center for Global Development, shares her concerns about data, accountability, funding and a lack of country-level targets. “I think that there are some really positive things. I think there are some kind of missed opportunities, and I think there are some areas where I'm not sure if the bank's playing, perhaps, to its comparative advantage in areas of the most impact,” she says. Another missed opportunity in her eyes? The lack of specific gender-based targets in the policy package for the upcoming International Development Association replenishment, IDA21. “I think they're really rolling the dice and it's a big risk, in terms of not having financing for gender, not having accountability” she says.

Electrifying 300M Africans by 2030! LIVE from the Concordia Annual Summit in New York City with Andy Herscowitz, CEO of the Mission 300 Accelerator. In this episode, Andy Herscowitz explains Mission 300, an initiative to provide access to electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.Mission 300 is possible through the collective efforts of the World Bank Group, African Development Bank (AfDB), The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), The Rockefeller Foundation, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).Watch on YouTubeRead out Press ReleaseVisit our Website

A fireside chat with Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 in Hauck Auditorium, Hoover Institution.  Condoleezza Rice, Director of the Hoover Institution and 66th US Secretary of State, Arun Majumdar, Jay Precourt Professor and Dean of SDSS, and Peter Blair Henry, Class of 1984 Senior Fellow at Hoover, conduct a fireside chat with President Banga on the importance of the World Bank leading "informed risk-taking" to catalyze blended (public and private) finance to fund investment in development and accelerate the energy transition.  

As the old saying goes, if you can't measure it, you can't improve it. But of course, what you measure is important too. In this episode of The Development Podcast, we explore why the World Bank Group is placing impact center stage with a slimmed-down and focused scorecard. We'll hear how the scorecard will measure success, as well as identify areas for improvement. We'll get to the heart of what impact measurement is, why it matters and how it has gained traction across the development community. We also get snapshots from two projects: one in Mozambique and one in Jordan. Listen now! Featured voicesEd Mountfield, Vice President, Operations Policy and Country Services, World Bank Lu Shen, Director, Results Management and Aid Effectiveness Division Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department, Asian Development BankVoices from development projects in Mozambique and JordanTimestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic[01:57] Impact on development projects: Voices from Mozambique and Jordan[06:51] Introducing the World Bank Group scorecard[09:53] Scorecard: Measurement, results, and transparency[14:46] What is impact and why is it important? Targets and SDGs[17:36] Alignment in measuring impact across all the MDBs: The case of the Asian Development BankABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;) Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

Frustrated by how women's voices were being ignored in the corporate world, Sally Helgesen started documenting the leadership styles of successful women. Her efforts culminated in the groundbreaking book, The Female Advantage, which changed the course of her career. Despite the uncertainty, Sally left her dream job for the male-dominated space of leadership coaching and speaking. Today, she is recognized as the world's premier women's leadership expert. In this episode, Sally shares powerful leadership lessons and offers actionable advice on pushing past fear, dealing with pushback, and staying committed to your mission. Sally Helgesen is an internationally recognized expert in women's leadership. She has authored several books, including her latest, Rising Together. Sally has been inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame and her work has appeared in The New York Times and Fortune, among others. In this episode, Ilana and Sally will discuss: - Why you must act before you feel ready - How women's leadership styles differ and why they matter - How Sally's frustration became a career-changing mission - Navigating pushback while staying focused - Discomfort as a catalyst for growth - The evolving definition of good leadership - Why success hinges on staying mission-focused  - Sally's tips for building a tough skin   - Following your gut when making big decisions - Strategies for building credibility in new, uncertain environments - Why inclusive leadership benefits everyone, not just women - Pushing past fear to seize golden opportunities - And other topics… Sally Helgesen is a speaker, coach, bestselling author, and internationally recognized expert in women's leadership. She has authored several books, including her latest, Rising Together, and the bestseller, How Women Rise, co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith. She has worked with organizations worldwide, from Microsoft to The World Bank Group, to cultivate inclusive cultures. Sally's groundbreaking work has appeared in The New York Times, Fortune, and Harvard Business Review, among others. She has also been inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame, honoring her significant contributions to the field of leadership and management worldwide. Connect with Sally: Sally's Website: https://sallyhelgesen.com/  Sally's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyhelgesen/  Resources Mentioned: The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/Female-Advantage-Womens-Ways-Leadership/dp/0385419112  How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job: https://www.amazon.com/How-Women-Rise-Breaking-Behaviors/dp/0316440124 Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace: https://www.amazon.com/Rising-Together-Divides-Inclusive-Workplace/dp/0306828308  The Female Vision: Women's Real Power at Work: https://www.amazon.com/Female-Vision-Womens-Real-Power/dp/1576753824  The Web of Inclusion: Architecture for Building Great Organizations: https://www.amazon.com/Web-Inclusion-Architecture-Building-Organizations/dp/1587982773 

There are secrets and surprises about life which are found through breathwork and meditation practices. Dr. Ajay Tejasvi is passionate about helping people unlock these gems, from youth to corporate executives. Find out how this multifaceted expert, with a background in international politics and leadership studies, transformed his life with a daily meditation practice. Despite having multiple projects and responsibilities, Ajay has found a way to integrate meditation into his daily routine and harness its transformative power. Learn how he manages to stay centered and resilient amidst life's challenges through his meditation techniques. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the life-changing benefits of Sky Breath Meditation for holistic well-being and stress management. Explore the profound impact of Breath Work on reducing stress and cultivating emotional resilience. Learn how leaders are integrating meditation practices to enhance focus, creativity, and overall well-being. Unlock the power of integrating Pranayama into your daily life for increased mental clarity and emotional balance. Transform your life with practical meditation techniques that promote inner peace and well-being.   Ajay Tejasvi, an esteemed figure at the Art of Living, is dedicated to demystifying meditation and introducing holistic breathwork practices to diverse audiences, ranging from executives to youth. With a background encompassing over 15 years at the World Bank Group and a wealth of experience in governance, leadership studies, and artificial intelligence engineering, Ajay brings a unique blend of expertise to his roles. His focus on utilizing modern technology for societal development is rooted in a socially conscious approach instilled in him from an early age. Ajay's commitment to spirituality, meditation, and breathwork is evident in his work, where he strives to inspire and guide individuals towards enhanced mental clarity, emotional resilience, and overall well-being. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:07 - Introduction to Dr. Ajay Tejasvi  00:02:19 - Multifaceted Expertise 00:08:41 - Balancing Spirituality and Corporate World 00:13:40 - Interconnectedness and Loneliness 00:16:05 - Managing Stress and Being Peaceful 00:16:56 - Disparity in Wealth 00:18:08 - Impact of Stress on Decision Making 00:23:11 - Importance of Mental Hygiene 00:26:42 - Mind-Body Paradigm 00:32:41 - Sky Breath Meditation 00:34:04 - The Impact of Sound on Consciousness 00:35:32 - The Transformative Power of Meditation 00:38:08 - The Vitality of Life Force and Breathwork 00:42:09 - Daily Meditation Practice 00:46:29 - How to Connect with Ajay Tejasvi The resources mentioned in this episode are: Pure Leaf - Alternative and complementary approach to conventional plant care and pest control methods. Use code KaraG20 for a 20% discount on your order. https://pureleafgardens.com?p=cz1xKOyZ- Follow Ajay Tejasvi on Instagram for insights and updates on his work and thoughts on leadership. https://www.instagram.com/artoflivingusa/ Join a program on the Sky Breath meditation technique led by Ajay Tejasvi or one of his fellow instructors at artofliving.org to learn how breathwork can transform the quality of life. https://www.artofliving.org Share this episode with someone who would benefit from the conversation and let them know you're thinking about them.  

What are the best things about having closely spaced siblings? What about farther apart? Siblings' closeness, amount of conflict, and relationships as adults are all affected by the age differences between them. In this episode, the listeners with closely spaced children tell us why that has worked for them (constant playmates) and not (constant bickering), while those with kids with larger age differences point to the unexpected connections that can still result. Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode: Michael Waters for The Atlantic: A Subtle Shift Shaking Up Sibling Relationships ANALYZING CONTEMPORARY FERTILITY by Christine R. Schwartz et. al: Chapter 10: Trends in Years Spent as Mothers of Young Children: The Role of Completed Fertility, Birth Spacing, and Multiple Partner Fertility Bart H. H. Golsteyn and Cécile A. J. Magnée for the IZA Institute of Labor Economics: Does Birth Spacing Affect Personality? World Bank Group, "World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision:" Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - United States Cicirelli, V. G. for Developmental Psychology. Effects of sibling structure and interaction on children's categorization style. Sahar Borairi, et. al for the Society for Research in Child Development: "Do siblings influence one another? Unpacking processes that occur during sibling conflict" Erping Xiao et. al for Early Child Development and Care: "The influence of birth order and sibling age gap on children's sharing decision" Read all of our listeners' great advice on the original thread in our Facebook group Listen to our episode "Birth Order: Can We Fight It?" Join our Facebook group for advice and laughs from other moms just like you! What Fresh Hell Podcast is going on tour across the Northeast US this fall! Join us for a live version of the podcast and bring all your mom friends. We can't wait to go back on the road! https://bit.ly/whatfreshhelltour  We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid's behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, siblings, brothers, sisters, sibling relationship, kids age gap, sibling age gap

In the ‘80s, Sally Helgesen worked in corporate communications, writing speeches for leaders at reputable companies. Although she thought these companies were wonderful, she felt frustrated that they didn't understand what women could offer as leaders. The big ideas she heard other women discuss at work led her to believe it was time to let go of old-fashioned leadership styles. So, she started talking to successful women leaders and wrote a bestselling book called The Female Advantage. In this episode, Sally offers advice on creating more inclusive workplaces and shares valuable insights for both male and female leaders. Sally Helgesen is a speaker, coach, bestselling author, and leading expert on women's leadership. She has written or co-written eight books, including her latest, Rising Together. Sally is ranked number three among the world's thought leaders by Global Gurus and has been inducted into the Thinkers 50 Hall of Fame. In this episode, Hala and Sally will discuss: - The once radical strengths of female leaders  - Commonalities between male and female leaders - The need to build connections for success in leadership  - Practical advice for leaders looking to create a more inclusive workplace - Toxic habits leaders must avoid - The danger of overvaluing expertise - The difference between diversity and inclusion - Rewriting negative scripts to stop acting like a victim - How triggers can hinder inclusive behaviors - The value of all four kinds of power in the workplace - And other topics…   Sally Helgesen has been writing about female leadership since 1990 when she published The Female Advantage, hailed as “the classic work” on women's leadership styles. She has authored or co-authored several other books, including How Women Rise and her latest, Rising Together. Sally delivers leadership programs, workshops, and seminars for corporations, universities, and nonprofits worldwide. She has worked with global brands like Chevron, Microsoft, and The World Bank Group, among others, to cultivate inclusive cultures. Cited by Forbes as the world's premier expert on women's leadership, Sally has also been inducted into the Thinkers 50 Hall of Fame for shaping leadership worldwide. Resources Mentioned: Sally's Website: https://sallyhelgesen.com/  Sally's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyhelgesen/  Sally's Twitter: https://twitter.com/SallyHelgesen  Sally's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sally_helgesen/  Sally's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sallyhelgesenbooks/  Sally's Books:  The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/Female-Advantage-Womens-Ways-Leadership/dp/ How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job: https://www.amazon.com/How-Women-Rise-Holding-Promotion/dp/ Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace: https://www.amazon.com/Rising-Together-Divides-Inclusive-Workplace/dp/  LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course.     Sponsored By: Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at youngandprofiting.co/shopify Indeed - Get a $75 job credit at indeed.com/profiting Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host Porkbun - Get your .bio domain and link in bio bundle for just $5 from Porkbun at porkbun.com/Profiting    More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review - ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting   Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala   Learn more about YAP Media Agency Services - yapmedia.io/