Can you help shape our future priorities? Take a five minute survey now. Survey closes on 8 July.

Inclusive Economies

Our work explores what characterises inclusive economies and how these can be achieved, particularly in a world where new technologies, rural to urban migration, and growing youth populations are disrupting and putting new pressures on people’s lives and livelihoods.

Our research looks at the impacts of business and markets on development and inequality and explores the potential for novel market-based solutions to work for the poorest and most marginalised based on gender, ethnicity and disability.  It explores alternatives that enable workers, consumers and communities to have a real voice.

It continues to revitalise debates on agriculture as a key pathway out of poverty and towards inclusion, particularly for young people. Our work is focused on identifying what opportunities exist in a period of agricultural commercialisation and rural transformation and how far different groups are able to access them.  It also understands how new technologies such as drones or blockchains pose risks, but can also be harnessed to improve the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people.  In a rapidly urbanising world where cities have become focal points for economic growth, jobs and innovation but also for poverty, inequality, vulnerability and conflict, our work explores what this means for both urban and rural people, and the opportunities and challenges they face in living safe and fulfilling lives.

People

Jodie Thorpe

Research Fellow

Philip Mader

Research Fellow

Richard Jolly

Emeritus Fellow and Research Associate

Ana Pueyo

Research Fellow

Carlos Fortin

Emeritus Fellow and Research Associate

Rachel Sabates-Wheeler

Research Fellow

Keetie Roelen

IDS Honorary Associate

Giel Ton

Research Fellow

Programmes and centres

Projects

Recent work

Filter results by

Showing 289–300 of 15400 results

Opinion

The turbulence and the toll of the USAID freeze

The election of President Donald Trump has ushered in a sharp turn of direction for the US government in its domestic and international engagement. Since his inauguration on 20 January, President Trump has been quick to enact policy change, including freezing all international development...

3 February 2025

Student Opinion

Being part of powerful network working for social change

Bruna Viana de Freitas studied MA Power, Participation & Social Change (MAP) at IDS in 2021-22 and went on to set up Cúrcuma, a consultancy working with participatory approaches for justice and inclusion, mainly focusing on socioenvironmental and human rights fields. In this blog post, Bruna...

Bruna Viana de Freitas, IDS alumna

31 January 2025

News

Podcast: Evidence for hope – the emerging sustainability revolution

Understanding and advancing how evidence can be used to inform decisions to improve people’s lives is a crucial priority for IDS. This is especially important for evidence-led solutions that need to balance between social, economic, and environmental domains to achieve...

31 January 2025

News

MA Food & Development – learning beyond the classroom

Food is a cross-cutting development issue that concerns hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, environment sustainability, power, politics, social justice and cultural identity. As such, the MA Food & Development course attracts a creative and passionate cohort of scholars committed to exploring...

30 January 2025

Student Opinion

Studying for a career at the intersection of development and climate

Pedro Sanches de Frias, currently studying MSc Climate Change, Development and Policy, is one of the first students taking part in a double master’s programme as a result of our partnership with Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (FGV EAESP). This partnership offers students...

Pedro Sanches de Frias

30 January 2025

Student Opinion

From Brazil to Brighton – reflections on the first term at IDS

Lucas dos Santos Miranda, MA Globalisation, Business & Development student (class of 2025), joined IDS as part of a double master’s programme partnership between IDS and Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). We asked Lucas to tell us a bit about why he joined IDS, his first impressions and his...

Lucas dos Santos Miranda, IDS student

29 January 2025

Past Event

Recasting Development 2025

Join the Institute of Development Studies for our annual event to examine prospects for a recasting of development around the world. Watch now https://www.youtube.com/live/xDvRRAQnoio During 2024 inequality continued to grow, the world experienced its hottest year ever, the war on Gaza...

28 January 2025

Why learn with us.

In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.