Of Interest
you are currently viewing:International Standards Proliferate, Reshaping Global Economy: Too Many Developing Countries Are Left Behind, Report FindsDecember 11, 2025--A proliferating set of international standards-covering everything from food labeling to the specifications of 5G cellular networks-s steadily reshaping the global economic order, delivering hefty benefits to the wealthy nations and large multinational companies that set them while leaving many developing countries on the sidelines, according to a new World Bank report. Today, standards are foundational economic infrastructure, as vital to prosperity as roads or ports, according to the World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development, which provides the first comprehensive analysis of the landscape of global standards. By making the transportation of goods seamless, the standardization of the shipping container boosted global trade to a greater extent than all of the trade agreements of the last 60 years, the report notes. Since the turn of the century, however, standards have also become weapons in trade wars: non-tariff measures such pesticide specifications or labeling requirements, for example, now affect 90 percent of global trade, up from just 15% in the late 1990s. Source: worldbank.org |
WFE Accessing Transition Finance-A Practical Guide for Issuers
February 26, 2026--Transition finance that enables the economy and finance to move towards Net Zero and other sustainability-related goals is a significant opportunity for businesses and investors.
Global climate finance, which supports activities that are already green, reached $1.9 tr in 2023 and is estimated to have exceeded $2 tr in 2024.
Ranked: The World's 50 Largest Economies, Including U.S. States
February 20, 2026--19 U.S. states rank among the world's 50 largest economies in 2025.
California ($4.30T) is now the world's 4th-largest economy, ahead of Japan and India.
Texas ($2.94T) is larger than Italy and Russia; Florida's economy is bigger than Australia's.
Technology will take our jobs? We've heard that one before
February 19, 2026-Professions threatened by technology have proven surprisingly resilient throughout history.
That's worth recognizing as artificial intelligence assumes more tasks, though this particular story won't necessarily end well for everyone.
Ramon Novarro was very good at one thing. Or so it seemed.
How Do Interest Rates Impact the Real Estate Market?
February 14, 2026--Real estate performance has historically strengthened during periods of falling interest rates.
Lower rates reduce financing costs and improve real estate valuations, supporting returns.
With rate cuts expected into mid 2026, real estate could benefit from a renewed tailwind.
Ranked: EV Share of New Car Sales by Country in 2025
February 13, 2026--Norway leads the world, with EVs making up an estimated 97% of new car sales in 2025.
China is the largest EV market by volume, with over 13 million EV sales estimated for 2025.
China's carbon emissions may have reached a critical turning point sooner than expected
February 12, 2026--The carbon emissions of the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter have plateaued for nearly two years.
Carbon dioxide emissions from China have flatlined or fallen for 21 months, meaning the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter may have reached a global turning point sooner than expected.
The Role Of Finance In Addressing Sustainable Development
February 12, 2026--The Z/Yen Group today released a publication titled "The Role of Finance in Addressing Sustainable Development" as commissioned by the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC).
The global financial system is evolving from a passive allocator of capital to an active force shaping growth pathways that foster resilience and inclusion. Global financing for sustainable development rose by 22% to USD 5.2 trillion between 2015 and 2024.1
Corruption Perceptions Index 2025: Decline in leadership undermining global fight against corruption
January 10, 2026-At a time of massive Gen Z-led protests against corruption and a dangerous disregard for international norms by some governments, the 31st edition of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index reveals a concerning picture of long-term decline in leadership to tackle corruption, alongside limited signs of progress
5 Things to Know About GEMs
February 9, 2026--The Global Emerging Markets Risk Database (GEMs) Consortium is a joint initiative of 29 multilateral development banks and development finance institutions that pools 40 years of credit risk data on their lending operations in emerging markets.
It provides the related statistics at no cost to members and to the public at gemsriskdatabase.org and on other platforms like Bloomberg and Data360.
Mapped: Which Countries Rely Most on Imports
February 4, 2026-Key Takeaways
Globally, imported goods and services are equal to 28% of GDP.
Despite importing $3.4 trillion of goods, the U.S. has one of the lowest import-to-GDP ratios because of its massive and diverse economy.
