Building Inclusive Economies

This publication offers new insights into the economic theory of social economy organisations, their role in an evolving political and economic context, and the links to local development and the empowerment of users.

"Beginning with key questions about clients of microfinance - Who are they? What financial services do they want? What is the impact of financial services on their lives? - the book examines all levels of the financial system. It shows what works, what does not work, and where more learning is needed. By focusing on promising models and practices, it offers a vision of how to achieve financial systems that will ultimately offer access for all."--BOOK JACKET.

The connection between women's economic participation and prosperity is undeniable, yet national and international economic leaders continue to make and measure policy in ways that undervalue women's work. Gayle Tzemach Lemmon and Rachel B. Vogelstein recommend women's economic empowerment as a tool to accelerate growth and reduce poverty.

This publication offers new insights into the economic theory of social economy organisations, their role in an evolving political and economic context, and the links to local development and the empowerment of users.

This summary highlights the key findings of this work carried out in Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa, as well as progress made by other African countries. The document aims to assist policymakers better understand the diverse benefits of green economy investments (from employment, to poverty reduction to sustainable use and management of natural resources) by sharing good practices and policies of countries which have been actively taking initiative in the global transition to build greener and more inclusive economies.

Globalization - the growing integration of economies and societies around the world, is a complex process. The focus of this research is the impact of economic integration on developing countries and especially the poor people living in these countries. Whether economic integration supports poverty reduction and how it can do so more effectively are key questions asked. The research yields 3 main findings with bearings on current policy debates about globalization. Firstly, poor countries with some 3 billion people have broken into the global market for manufactures and services, and this successful integration has generally supported poverty reduction. Secondly, inclusion both across countries and within them is important as a number of countries (pop. 2 billion) are failing as states, trading less and less, and becoming marginal to the world economy. Thirdly, standardization or homogenization is a concern - will economic integration lead to cultural or institutional homogenization?