A key reason for women’s low labour force participation in developing countries is the burden of unpaid domestic work. Analysing data from rural Bangladesh, this article assesses whether electrification can make a difference by increasing access to time-saving technologies. It finds that women in electrified homes are able to divert some time away from housework to farm work and leisure, and have a greater say in decision-making.

This is the third post of a five-part series to mark International Women’s Day 2025.

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower are essential for reducing global carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuel-based energy generation. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency ((IRENA), 2020), the large-scale deployment of renewable energy, combined with energy efficiency improvements, has the potential to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions by 70% by 2050.

Typhoon Yagi hit Vietnam in September 2024, becoming the most powerful storm to strike the country in 70 years. It caused widespread destruction in the northern regions, resulting in extensive humanitarian efforts and demonstrating the nation’s spirit of unity. This wave of generosity caught my attention particularly because it aligns with fascinating findings from a recent study by EfD researcher Ho Quoc Thong and his team, which looked at how awareness of donations influences people’s willingness to help during crises, particularly examining how this varies between men and women.

India’s newly formed government aims to make the country Vixit (developed) by 2047. This calls for improving India’s gender parity in socio-economic outcomes, according to Farzana Afridi (Professor of Economics at Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi). She pens key policies that can propel the country in this direction in an op-ed article in the India Express.

In the heart of Arusha, Tanzania, something transformative was brewing. Minds from Eastern African governmental agencies and researchers converged for a week-long workshop on the practicalities of clean cooking. The air was filled with anticipation, for it was not just about discussing solutions; it was about catalyzing change.

With the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022, energy markets became highly volatile due to sanctions and oil embargos placed on Russia by Western countries. As a result, the price of food and energy increased worldwide due to supply chain disruptions. It seems probable that this caused a substantial rise in the number of households experiencing energy and food security globally.

In a world where gender inequality is already prevalent in social environments and labor markets, the decision to have children further tilts the scale against women.

High temperatures have unequal impacts on household consumption across India and thus widen socio-economic inequality. To fight this, the country’s climate response must promote mindful consumption among the affluent and equip vulnerable communities with effective tools for survival.

Tequila conjures images of lime wedges, salt, and late nights. The popular spirit is deeply connected to the blue agave plants it's made from - and, perhaps surprisingly, to bat populations in Mexico.

On Sunday, December 12, Claudia Goldin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for her work on women’s progress in the workforce. In this piece, Farzana Afridi reflects on the significance of Goldin’s win and the contribution of her research to understanding the gender dynamics of labour markets. She also delves into the implications of this research for developing countries like India, where female labour force participation has remained low despite economic growth, and why this matters for economic growth.