Public Disclosure Authorized 1 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Impact of out-of-pocket health payments on poverty and alignment of public and external health financing in Guinea Health, Nutrition, and Population Global Practice Public Disclosure Authorized June 2024 © 2024 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff of The World Ban ...

Economic Overview - The worst economic distortions from the COVID-19 pandemic are fading, with inflation significantly declining and the labor market cooling[1] - Inflation has risen 2.5% over the past 12 months, moving closer to the Federal Reserve's 2% target[3] - The unemployment rate is currently at 4.3%, nearly a full percentage point above early 2023 levels[4] Labor Market Dynamics - Job gains averaged 170,000 per month over the three months ending in July 2024, indicating solid but slowing employment growth[7] - The ratio of job vacancies to unemployment has returned to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a normalization of labor market conditions[5] - Nominal wage gains have moderated, and the labor market is less tight than in 2019 when inflation was below 2%[5] Inflation Trends - Inflation peaked at 7.1% in June 2022, driven by supply chain disruptions and increased demand for goods[17] - The decline in inflation by 4.5 percentage points from its peak occurred alongside low unemployment, a historically unusual outcome[18] - The Federal Reserve raised its policy rate by 425 basis points in 2022 and an additional 100 basis points in 2023 to combat inflation[17] Policy Outlook - The Federal Reserve is prepared to adjust monetary policy in response to evolving economic data and risks to both inflation and employment[6] - Anchored inflation expectations, supported by strong central bank actions, can facilitate disinflation without requiring economic slack[20] - The current policy rate provides ample room to respond to potential risks, including further weakening in labor market conditions[8]

Policy Research Working Paper 10871 Measuring Poverty in Tanzania Comparison of Diary and Recall Approaches to Food Consumption Data Collection Akuffo Amankwah Darcey Jeanne Genou Johnson Josephine Ofori Adofo Maryam Gul Amparo Palacios-Lopez Development Economics Development Data Group August 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized A verified reproducibility package for this paper is available at http://reproducibility.worldbank.org, click here for direct access. Public Disclosure Au ...

Policy Research Working Paper 10870 Who on Earth Is Using Generative AI? Yan Liu He Wang Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Digital Development Global Practice August 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10870 Abstract Leveraging unconventional data, including website traffic data and Google Trends, this paper unveils the real-time usage patterns of generative artificial intelligence tools by individuals across countries. The pap ...

Policy Research Working Paper 10873 Do Men Really Have Greater Socio-Emotional Skills Than Women? Evidence from Tanzanian Youth Rachel Cassidy Smita Das Clara Delavallade Elijah Kipchumba Julietha Komba Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Africa Region Gender Innovation Lab August 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10873 Abstract Individuals' socio-emotional skills (SES), and their perceptions of their skill levels, matter for l ...

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10876 Rate Cycles Kristin Forbes Jongrim Ha M. Ayhan Kose Public Disclosure Authorized Development Economics Prospects Group August 2024 Policy Research Working Paper 10876 Abstract This paper analyzes cycles in policy interest rates in 24 advanced economies over 1970–2024, combining a new application of business cycle methodology with rich time-series decompositions of the shocks driving rat ...

Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10874 Private Management of African Protected Areas Improves Wildlife and Tourism Outcomes but With Security Concerns in Conflict Regions Sean Denny Gabriel Englander Patrick Hunnicutt Development Economics Development Research Group August 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized A verified reproducibility package for this paper is available at http://reproducibility.worldbank.org, click here for direct access. Public Disclosu ...

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report emphasizes the growing importance of social sustainability and the need for a consensus on its measurement to effectively monitor progress towards sustainable development goals [4][7] - It introduces the Social Sustainability Index, which measures multidimensional social gaps across four dimensions: inclusion, resilience, social cohesion, and process legitimacy, using 16 indicators [4][8] - The findings indicate that approximately two-thirds of the population in Peru and South Africa experience overlapping social gaps, with intensity rates of 47% and 53% respectively, highlighting significant social fragility [4][9] Summary by Sections Introduction - The report discusses the increasing global attention on social sustainability due to rising poverty and inequality exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic [7] - It highlights the lack of an empirical measure for social sustainability, which hampers effective policy design and monitoring [7][8] Conceptual and Measurement Framework - The report outlines a conceptual framework for social sustainability that includes social cohesion, inclusion, resilience, and process legitimacy [15][19] - It critiques existing literature for lacking a consensus on measurement and proposes a comprehensive approach to assess social sustainability across multiple dimensions [19][20] Methodology - The report details a new methodology based on the Counting Approach to measure social sustainability multidimensionally, identifying individuals experiencing multiple social gaps [28][29] - It describes the process of aggregating individual social gap data into a synthetic index, the Social Sustainability Index (SSI), which can be disaggregated by population group [31][32] Application - The report applies the proposed Social Sustainability Index in Peru and South Africa, demonstrating its utility in identifying vulnerable populations and the dimensions driving social sustainability gaps [4][9][34] - It emphasizes the importance of accountability and inclusion in policy design to address the identified social gaps [4][9]

Investment Rating - The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the most valuable technology brands, with a focus on brand value growth and strength ratings, indicating a positive outlook for the technology sector in 2024 [20][23][29]. Core Insights - Apple has reclaimed the title of the most valuable tech brand in 2024, with a brand value increase of 74% to USD 516.6 billion, supported by strong brand equity and premium pricing strategies [20][23]. - NVIDIA's brand value surged by 163% to USD 44.5 billion, making it the fastest-growing tech brand, driven by high demand for AI-related hardware [20][26]. - Microsoft also saw significant growth, with its brand value rising by 78% to USD 340.4 billion, bolstered by its AI innovations and collaboration with OpenAI [20][27]. - Weixin/WeChat, YouTube, and Google received AAA+ brand strength ratings, highlighting their strong market positions [20][25]. Ranking Analysis - The top three most valuable technology brands in 2024 are Apple (USD 516.6 billion), Microsoft (USD 340.4 billion), and Google (USD 333.4 billion), reflecting substantial year-on-year growth [22][32]. - The report ranks the top 10 technology brands, with notable increases in brand value for TikTok (up 28.2% to USD 84.2 billion) and Accenture (up 2% to USD 40.5 billion) [22][32]. - The report also highlights the importance of sustainability perceptions, with Apple leading in sustainability perceptions value at USD 33.3 billion, while Microsoft has the highest positive gap value of USD 3.2 billion [28][29]. Brand Strength Index - The Brand Strength Index (BSI) scores for the top brands indicate strong market recognition, with Apple achieving a score of 86.5, Microsoft at 86.2, and Weixin/WeChat at 94.3, showcasing their competitive advantages [23][25][29]. - The report emphasizes the role of brand strength in driving customer loyalty and market differentiation, which are critical for sustained growth in the technology sector [10][20]. Sustainability Insights - The report includes a Sustainability Perceptions Index, indicating that sustainability drives 7% of customer consideration in the technology sector, highlighting the growing importance of corporate responsibility [28][29]. - Apple's sustainability efforts have been recognized, although the report notes the challenges the company faces regarding public perception and actual performance [28][29]. Conclusion - Overall, the report indicates a robust growth trajectory for leading technology brands, driven by innovation, strong brand equity, and increasing consumer focus on sustainability [20][27][29].

MRMI A Marketplace for Equitable Building Report / August 2024 Retrofits How Lessons from Massachusetts Can Help Scale Decarbonization to Meet Climate Goals iStock photo Authors and Acknowledgments Authors Ella Mure Eva Rosenbloom Lucas Toffoli Authors listed alphabetically. All authors are from RMI unless otherwise noted. Contacts Eva Rosenbloom, erosenbloom@rmi.org Ella Mure, emure@rmi.org Lucas Toffoli, ltoffoli@rmi.org Copyrights and Citation Eva Rosenbloom, Ella Mure, and Lucas Toffoli, A Marketplace f ...