ThinkTankWeekly

End of extreme poverty: A case for action and a plan to start

Brookings | 2026-09-02 | economy

Visit original source

ThinkTankWeekly provides a curated entry and summary only. Full text and PDF remain on the publisher's website.

English Summary

The article argues that targeted cash transfers represent a feasible, scalable mechanism to end extreme poverty, noting that previous growth-based models have stalled since 2015. Evidence from existing evaluations demonstrates that unconditional cash transfers positively impact consumption, health, and education without discouraging labor force participation. To move beyond small pilots, the authors propose initiating a national-scale "proof-of-concept" program, funded by private capital and embedded within a government structure. This approach is crucial not only for immediate poverty reduction but also for generating the necessary evidence to build state capacity and enable global replication of the model.

中文摘要

本文論證,目標性現金轉移代表了一種可行且可擴展的機制,能夠終結極端貧困。文章指出,過去基於經濟成長的模型自2015年以來已逐漸停滯不前。現有的評估證據顯示,無條件現金轉移在提升消費、改善健康和教育方面具有顯著正面影響,同時並未抑制勞動力參與率。為超越目前的小型試點計畫,作者們提議啟動一項國家級的「概念驗證」計畫,該計畫應由私人資本資助,並嵌入政府體系內。此類方法不僅對於立即減貧至關重要,更關鍵的是能產生必要的證據基礎,從而建立國家能力,並實現該模式在全球範圍內的複製與推廣。

Related Entries

  1. 1.
    2026-11-07 | society | 2026-W45

    The publication argues that current efforts to improve the well-being of men and boys of color are too fragmented, failing to account for the structural linkages between systems like education, employment, and criminal justice. It proposes a new, holistic framework that traces how structural conditions flow through multiple domains to measurable outcomes, such as longevity. Key reasoning emphasizes the need to treat 'place' as a fundamental actor and to identify successful communities where these populations are already thriving. Policy implications require shifting away from individual-focused interventions toward developing structural, place-based agendas that address systemic inequities.

    Read at Brookings

  2. 2.
    2026-11-07 | economy | 2026-W45 | Topics: United States

    The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.

    Read at Brookings

  3. 3.
    2026-11-07 | diplomacy | 2026-W45 | Topics: Climate, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The U.S. is drastically reducing core funding to multilateral institutions, withdrawing from numerous bodies due to perceived misalignment with national interests. While multilateral channels offer critical advantages—such as pooling resources for global public goods and managing risk in fragile settings—the U.S.'s funding remains heavily 'earmarked,' which effectively 'bilateralizes' the system and undermines shared burden-sharing. This practice, coupled with deep cuts, diminishes the multilateral system's effectiveness and efficiency, particularly in humanitarian aid. Policy recommendations suggest the U.S. must adopt a systematic, published strategy for aid channel choice and shift from restrictive project-level earmarking to broader thematic funding to restore global cooperation.

    Read at Brookings

  4. 4.
    2026-11-07 | tech | 2026-W45 | Topics: AI, Cybersecurity, United States

    The 2026 midterms are expected to dramatically tighten the regulatory environment for data center development, shifting power away from developers and toward local communities. This shift is fueled by rising public opposition, leading to local moratoriums, and potential legislative actions such as repealing tax exemptions and mandating that developers cover full energy costs (ratepayer protection). Consequently, the industry faces increased operational and construction costs, stricter permitting requirements, and mandatory community engagement protocols. These changes suggest a move toward greater regulatory oversight, particularly regarding energy use and the mandatory disclosure of AI activities.

    Read at Brookings

  5. 5.
    2026-11-07 | society | 2026-W45 | Topics: United States

    New Census estimates reveal a significant demographic shift, noting that over half of Americans under age 30 now identify with nonwhite racial or ethnic groups. This trend is driven by younger, U.S.-born cohorts and the rise of multiracial identities, indicating that diversity is 'augmenting' the population rather than merely replacing it. This 'diversity boom' is projected to continue regardless of future immigration levels, making the young adult population the most racially diverse in U.S. history. Strategically, this means the nation's future labor force, consumer base, and political landscape will be fundamentally multiracial and multicultural, necessitating policy planning that accounts for this permanent demographic reality.

    Read at Brookings