📬 New WIDERAngle out now! The latest issue looks at evidence in action: policy‑driven conferences in South Africa and India, tax consent, automation, climate shocks, and inclusive growth across the Global South. Read more: go.unu.edu/cJkw4

The 2025 UNU-WIDER Annual Report is out! 🎉 Celebrating our 40 years, the report highlights: ✅ Stories of change driven by research ✅ How we turn evidence into policy impact ✅ Key insights on inequality, tax policy, peacebuilding & more! 🔗 go.unu.edu/oPlVg

📍 UNU‑WIDER is in Lusaka until mid‑May Our colleague Kwabena Adu-Ababio is at the @ZambiaRevenue (ZRA) to drive research projects through the UNU-WIDER supported Secure Data Lab 👉 If you are part of the research community in Zambia, we’d love to meet you and introduce the Data Lab

How does tax audit frequency affect compliance? Our latest working paper finds that companies subjected to multiple audits increase their VAT liabilities. Repeated interactions are essential to foster durable compliance in developing economies. 🔗Learn more: go.unu.edu/deloj

From tax administration to tax policy 📊 In this blog, Jonathan Msoni shows how collaboration between UNU‑WIDER and Zambia Revenue Authority, through administrative tax data, research partnerships, and skills‑building, can drive evidence‑based reforms. Read the blog 👉 go.unu.edu/OUzpQ

Don’t miss your chance — opportunities closing soon! 📘 Call for papers: 2026 Jobs & Development Conference 🎓 UNU-WIDER Visiting PhD Fellowship See more details and apply by 31 March: go.unu.edu/0pG8J

🎥 What stood out after two days of the #SATIED Close-Out Conference? This video captures the perspectives that made the conversation what it was, from new analytical approaches to the value of working across institutions and policy areas. Learn more: go.unu.edu/4LgfU

How is social protection organized in Chile, and what does it mean for poverty reduction and redistribution? A new paper maps the country’s mix of mandated savings, occupational insurance & social assistance, showing strong old‑age focus & modest redistributive effects. 👉 go.unu.edu/k7485

What if discrimination doesn’t just hurt today, but traps families for generations? A new paper by Sudeshna Maitra and Sudarsana Kundu shows how caste norms in India shape mobility, poverty & long-run class outcomes over generations. 👉 Read the paper for more: go.unu.edu/nYdP0

After a decade of policy-shaping research, #SATIED enters Phase III! 🎉 The partnership between National Treasury of South Africa, SARS & UNU-WIDER, supported by the EU & UK, will deepen evidence, expand 🇿🇦 data systems & strengthen state capacity. More: go.unu.edu/Pmj66

Two days. Four years. One idea: policy must be grounded in evidence. The SA-TIED Phase II Close-Out Conference wrapped today — from data infrastructure to reform implementation. Thank you to all speakers, partners & participants. #SATIED

"Evidence does not speak for itself. It must be acted upon." — Director Kunal Sen Day 1 of the SA-TIED Phase II Close-Out Conference is underway: 4 years of research with National Treasury of South Africa & SARS, supported by the EU & UK FCDO, now focused on impact. 🎥 go.unu.edu/5qvAH

As the 32nd Session of the UN Tax Committee opens this week, global profit shifting remains central to debates on international tax Our latest brief shows how profit shifting disproportionately harms lower‑income countries—through direct revenue losses and long‑term, indirect costs go.unu.edu/2WGbK

🌍 The 2026 WIDER Development Conference wrapped up after three days of rich debate on green industrialization and inclusive growth Huge thanks to ISID and all speakers, policymakers & researchers who joined us in New Delhi 🌱 Onward to continued dialogue and collaboration!

Final day of the 2026 WIDER Development Conference🌿 Poster and parallel sessions continue to highlight innovative work from emerging scholars and leading experts. The depth and diversity of research on display shows just how vital evidence is for shaping development policy in a fast-changing world

Day 2 of the 2026 WIDER Development Conference highlighted urgent debates on global governance, green industrialization, and the risks & opportunities facing the Global South. From critical minerals to South–South cooperation, collaboration is critical. More tomorrow. 🌍

As the #WIDERDevConf2026 discusses inclusive growth this week, new UNU‑WIDER–GlobalDev blog by Wenjun Wang dives into one of the key policy challenges: will technological advancement risk the opportunities for millions of workers? Read more: go.unu.edu/SZUUp

‘A fractured world order is not abstract; it's real conflicts, real uncertainty, and real consequences’ — Kunal Sen Day 1 of the #WIDERDevConf2026 opened with discussions on green, inclusive growth amid global fragmentation. Explore today's sessions: go.unu.edu/8yxeU

WIDER Development Conference 2026 starts tomorrow in New Delhi! 🌱 Over 3 days, we’ll come together to discuss key issues like global governance, South-South cooperation, and climate transition. Proudly partnering with Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID)! More: go.unu.edu/lfI0B

New UNU-WIDER research by Vanessa, Yannick, Gayatri, Sahgal, & Calebshows that informal taxes in DRC communities aren’t always voluntary. Some fill service gaps and boost legitimacy, while security payments reduce trust. 🔗Learn more from the paper: go.unu.edu/ih95O

Submission deadline approaching — don’t miss your chance! Submit your paper to the Jobs & Development Conference 2026! We invite policy-relevant papers on labor and development economics. 📍 HKUST, Hong Kong 📅 9–10 Oct 2026 📝 Deadline: 20 March 🔗 go.unu.edu/LXwSS

Final call 📢 Four years of SA-TIED research. Six policy themes. The SA-TIED Phase II Close-Out Conference brings researchers, policymakers, and other practitioners together to examine South Africa’s economic challenges and reform priorities. Register:https://go.unu.edu/OUx7X

“Early in my career, I was often one of the few — and sometimes the only — woman of colour in technical spaces.” Our former Visiting PhD Fellow Mehwish Ali reflects on how the UNU-WIDER fellowship shaped her path in research, policy, and mentoring. Read more: go.unu.edu/Vooqi

Refugees carry the legacy of conflict with them when they cross borders. New UNU-WIDER research finds that conflict fatalities reduce life satisfaction and social safety nets among Syrian refugees in Jordan—and drought amplifies these effects. 🔗 go.unu.edu/k1IxD

Youth employment policy needs solid data, but collecting it isn't easy! 📊In 2025, 200+ young people in Nampula took part in the first Skills Survey. Key lessons learned: 1️⃣ Participation shapes data 2️⃣ Logistics matter for quality 3️⃣ Context is key for engagement 🔗 go.unu.edu/FgkIp

What do bond markets say about inflation? New #SATIED research finds long-term inflation expectations are slowly moving closer to the South African Reserve Bank’s target band, while inflation risk has fallen since 2021. Learn more: go.unu.edu/fObj7

We are excited to bring together researchers, policymakers and practicioners in New Delhi, 18–20 March, for #WIDERDevConf2026! Together with ISID, we explore green industrialization & inclusive growth amid a fractured world order. Read more: go.unu.edu/lfI0B

Gender inequality is shaped by many forces. Fiscal policy is one piece of the puzzle. 🧩 Our researchers examine how tax systems interact with broader inequalities, and what gender-responsive reform could look like. 🔗 go.unu.edu/vmAkS #IWD2026 #UNU4SDG5

Across many economies, stabilising public finances has become a central priority. An #SATIED & Econ3x3 article brings together perspectives from four economists on what South Africa’s 2026 Budget signals for the fiscus, tax reform & infrastructure. 🔗 go.unu.edu/R97XF

The World Bank launched the DRM Impact Program in Tokyo this week. UNU-WIDER’s Amina Ebrahim showed that tax incentive evaluation is possible when countries bring these two ingredients: 📊 investment in data 💪 political will Find out more: go.unu.edu/Ep1nT

Fintech is reshaping credit markets in emerging economies, but does it actually improve financial inclusion? This was discussed today at the WIDER Seminar Series, when Alan Finkelstein Shapiro (Tufts University) took stage. Join our next seminar online or in Helsinki: go.unu.edu/ZNCk5

#MakingTaxDataWork Throughout the past weeks, we’ve shared the journey of African secure research data labs — expanding access to administrative tax data, strengthening institutions, and supporting more informed tax policy. Explore the full story and watch the documentary 👉 go.unu.edu/U3Izl

We joined the PCT Tax & Development Conference in Tokyo! Our Research Fellow Amina Ebrahim highlighted how microdata + Secure Data Labs help countries move from data scarcity to evidence‑driven tax reform Her message: when countries own data and capacity, real policy change happens go.unu.edu/1Q7ly

📢 New #SATIED research shows that labour market restrictions under apartheid are linked to persistent labour misallocation in South Africa , highlighting how historical policies can leave lasting economic footprints. Read more go.unu.edu/eUoNs

Our 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 is open for applications! Take your research to another level by working with a mentor and peers, while exploring Helsinki and making lasting connections. Don’t miss your chance! 👉 Apply by 31 March: go.unu.edu/SDCeY

The new WIDERAngle is out! This issue spotlights the 2026 WIDER Development Conference on green industrialization & inclusive growth in a fractured world order 🌱🌏 Plus new blogs, briefs, opportunities & recent publications. Read the newsletter here: go.unu.edu/TDWzz

Starting small is underrated. One dataset 🗂️, one computer 💻, one researcher 👤 — that can be the beginning of a secure data lab. Across Africa, step-by-step commitment has built lasting data infrastructure for research and policymaking. #MakingTaxDataWork

The WIDER Seminar Series is back! 🎉 Join us in person in Helsinki or online for cutting-edge research in development economics. Next up: fintech, firm inclusion, and macro dynamics in emerging economies. Register 👉 go.unu.edu/wvOsM

Don’t forget to apply! ✨ We’re hiring a Head of Policy Research (P3) to lead the SA‑TIED programme in Pretoria. Help steer research, partnerships & policy engagement that shape South Africa’s economic future. Apply by 1 March: go.unu.edu/PRmSo

When climate transitions falter, the bottleneck is often not policy, but implementation. A new #SATIED blog looks at what South Africa reveals about municipal resilience and the challenges of turning ambition into action. Learn more🔗 go.unu.edu/Evxlr

#MakingTaxDataWork Word is spreading on the policy impact of tax administration data labs — and other countries are taking note. Inspired by these experiences, Honduras saw that secure, collaborative use of administrative data is possible, and launched its own data lab in November 2025 🙌

How are difficult policy trade-offs navigated in practice across fiscal pressures, labour markets, and the energy transition? Join us at the SA-TIED Conference to engage with the conversations shaping reform in South Africa — the registation is now open! Register here: go.unu.edu/OUx7X #SATIED

In a new The Conversation Africa piece, our Inclusive Growth in Mozambique colleagues Ricardo Santos and Elina Penttinen unpack how how climate shocks intersect with poverty, weak public services, and deep-rooted spatial inequalities. Read the blog here: go.unu.edu/cm8F3 📸 USSENE MAMUDO/AFP

#MakingTaxDataWork Collaboration and shared learning are key to African data labs 🤝 In 2024, research assistants from Uganda and South Africa took part in an exchange to learn how each lab manages data and supports policy-relevant research. 👉 go.unu.edu/MbZpl

Earlier this week we launched two new #SOUTHMOD policy notes with ZIPAR, using #MicroZAMOD to assess fuel subsidies and the Cash for Work programme. Savings from universal fuel subsidies could support more targeted, equitable social protection. Learn more about MicroZAMOD👉 go.unu.edu/JXE3n

What can we learn about economic progress beyond headline GDP? New #SATIED research explores how high-frequency indicators, from electricity to transactions, could complement official statistics and offer earlier insight into economic shifts. 🔗https://go.unu.edu/K3MC1

🚀 UNU‑WIDER just kicked off its first engagement with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) with a Tax Gap Training together with IMF colleagues. A central feature of the session was the UNU‑WIDER Tax Gap Toolkit. Read more about the training: go.unu.edu/6OvYb #DRM

A new UNU-WIDER blog, The Panopticon Taxman, explores how VAT e-invoicing gave tax authorities in Uganda unprecedented visibility into economic activity — and why better information doesn’t automatically translate into fairer, more efficient taxation. Read the blog : go.unu.edu/MTtVa #DRM

#MakingTaxDataWork in Zambia! How do taxpayers respond when income taxes rise? Using payroll tax data from the Zambia Revenue Authority data lab, new evidence shows that higher taxes mainly change how income is reported, not how much people work. 👉 go.unu.edu/AUtBa

📢 Join us for the 2026 #SATIED Conference 23–24 March! This year’s theme, Evidence in Action: Advancing Inclusive Economic Growth, brings together leading voices to explore how evidence, data, and institutions shape South Africa’s economic reform agenda. Register now: go.unu.edu/OUx7X