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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

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Past Event

Conference: Reimagining social protection in a time of global uncertainty

In this Centre for Social Protection international conference we will discuss and debate the past, present and future roles of social protection as a development policy agenda, at a time of global uncertainty and multiple crises. Themes include social protection policy processes, social...

From 12 September 2023 until 14 September 2023

Past Event

ARISE Kenya Photovoice Exhibition

Join IDS and ARISE for a lunchtime seminar and exhibition of ‘ARISE Kenya Photovoice’ and find out more about our work on health, wellbeing and accountability in the urban informal settlements of Nairobi. The exhibition includes a selection of images produced using Photovoice, a method...

7 September 2023

Impact Story

Turning research into action, to bring progressive change for women

We live in uncertain times, with threats to progress on women’s rights and gender equality. To counter this, two collaborative research strands this year aimed to bring progressive change for women by highlighting the barriers that prevent them from realising their rights – and yielded...

6 September 2023

News

IDS releases its 2022-23 Annual Review

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has published our 2022-23 Annual Review, highlighting the progress we have made towards our vision of a more equitable and sustainable world. Read the Annual Review 2022-23 IDS Board Chair Deepak Nayyar said: “The impact stories highlighted...

6 September 2023

Opinion

Zimbabwe’s disputed election: why resource politics matter

Here we go again…. Zimbabwe has a disputed election, with all sorts of deeply damaging uncertainties that will follow, perhaps for years. The final results were announced late at night on 26 August, with Emerson Mnangagwa declared the winner of the presidential poll with 52.6% of the vote,...

5 September 2023

Report

IDS Annual Review 2023

IDS Annual Review

Against the backdrop of another challenging year, where multiple intersecting crises are affecting a world still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, our 2022–23 Annual Review highlights the progress we have made towards our vision of a more equitable and sustainable world. In the last twelve...

5 September 2023

Impact Story

Co-creating approaches to climate change and uncertainty

Collaborations are central to how we work at IDS. The bedrock of this work is participation – of local communities and citizens, and of country-based researchers, businesses, advocates, activists and policymakers. Building, sharing and valuing local knowledge was the springboard for the...

1 September 2023

Opinion

Climate uncertainty and the arts

Climate change is drawing us into a complex and uncertain future. Climate Uncertainty and the Arts is a working paper which explores how the arts might contribute. One thing is certain: the risk management techniques we currently use to control companies, projects, and financial portfolios...

Jo Walton, Research Fellow, University of Sussex

1 September 2023

Opinion

Between streets and struggles: contrasting protests and social mobilisation in Colombia and the UK

Protests and social mobilisations are key in democracies like Colombia and UK, but how do experiences differ during strikes? In this blog, IDS students Amy Baquero and Eva Vargas Diaz explore the use of violence and unionisation in Colombia and UK. This is one of a series of blogs supported...

Amy Baquero, current IDS student

Eva Vargas Diaz, current IDS student

1 September 2023

Brief

Between God, the People, and the State: Citizen Conceptions of Zakat

ICTD Research in Brief 94

Zakat – one of the five pillars of Islam – is an annual obligatory payment, typically equivalent to 2.5 per cent of an individual’s productive wealth, to a set of appropriate recipients, including the poor. The annual global zakat pool is estimated to make up between US$200 billion and...

Max Gallien
Max Gallien & 2 others

1 September 2023

Brief

Beyond Greed: Why Armed Groups Tax

ICTD Research in Brief 97

Armed groups tax. Journalistic accounts often have a tone of surprise about this fact, while policy reports tend to strike a tone of alarm, highlighting the link between armed group taxation and ongoing conflict. Policymakers often focus on targeting the mechanisms of armed group taxation as...

Max Gallien
Max Gallien & 4 others

1 September 2023

Why learn with us.

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

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