Special Report No. 7
By Piyush Verma, Medha Prasanna, Caroline Arkalji, Erlijn Van Genuchten, and Siddharth Sharma
By Udaibir Das
Global financial institutions continue to frame the 2026 outlook for emerging markets through a familiar cyclical lens. The consensus assumes U.S. monetary easing, a softer dollar and a modest global slowdown will favor local-currency assets, credible disinflation paths and balance-sheet repair. This narrative is historically grounded and internally coherent. It is also increasingly insufficient.
By Medha Prasanna
Without intentional strategies to strengthen energy infrastructure, the Global South will remain largely a consumer of AI technologies.
By Brian Webster, Alan Gelb, and Anit Mukherjee
Shifting the payment of social transfers from cash to direct deposit via bank or mobile money accounts can directly improve efficiency for governments and convenience for beneficiaries. It may also produce positive spillovers such as boosting financial inclusion and empowering women. But do these spillovers materialize, and under what circumstances?
By Shayak Sengupta
Without concerted policy efforts to incorporate the eastern states into India’s renewable fold, the region risks being left behind in reaping the benefits of transition.
By Shayak Sengupta and Sagatom Saha
The Inflation Reduction Act is Washington’s boldest climate policy ever—but still woefully insufficient.
By Shayak Sengupta, Neha Khanna, Casper Sonesson, Daniel Suryadarma, Aanandita Sikka, Edoardo Tancioni, Sagatom Saha, Budy Resosudarmo
Economywide decarbonization is essential for achieving the climate goals set in the Paris Agreement.
By Shayak Sengupta, and Sagatom Saha
The era of green subsidies is shaping the transition to a cleaner future, but, absent global cooperation, developing countries risk being left behind.
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