Category: Finance

New findings from the World Bank highlight significant disparities in the distribution of social spending across 133 countries. The data shows that, on average, only 26% of social expenditures effectively reach the poorest 20% of the population, raising concerns about the effectiveness of government programs aimed at reducing poverty. Sectoral Differences in Pro-Poor Investments The […]

The lack of fast and adequate funding in the startup ecosystem poses a significant risk to entrepreneurs, often resulting in the loss of first-mover advantage in critical transactions and time-sensitive projects. This delay not only leads to missed opportunities but also lowers startup success rates, as businesses struggle to scale efficiently. The Need for Alternative […]

President Donald Trump and Republicans in the House of Representatives have put forward budget proposals that would slash spending by hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade on several programs that support low-income U.S. families with children. If those cuts are in the version of the 2026 budget that clears Congress, and Trump […]

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced a $9 billion credit line and new infrastructure investments for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, signaling a deepening of Beijing’s economic engagement with the region. The pledge was made during Xi’s address to leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) gathered in Beijing. […]

The UK government is set to inject fresh momentum into the private markets sector with a landmark initiative aimed at channeling more than £50 billion ($66.1 billion) of pension fund capital into private equity, venture capital, and infrastructure over the next five years. Unveiled on Tuesday, the “Mansion House Accord” has been signed by 17 […]

Stablecoins Surge and Binance’s Record Deal Drive $6 Billion Crypto VC Quarter Venture capital investment in the crypto sector more than doubled in Q1 2025, reaching $6 billion, with momentum driven by both stablecoin growth and a landmark deal involving Binance. The standout transaction was Binance’s $2 billion minority investment from MGX—the largest such crypto […]

The U.S. is headed into what forecasters expect to be one of the hottest summers on record, and millions of people across the country will struggle to pay their power bills as temperatures and energy costs rise. A 2023 national survey found that nearly 1 in 4 Americans were unable to pay their full energy […]

Prologis Inc. (NYSE: PLD), a leading industrial real estate investment trust (REIT), has proactively secured $6 billion in credit facilities to bolster its financial flexibility during periods of market uncertainty. The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Tim Arndt, disclosed that these credit lines are structured with staggered maturities and involve approximately 30 banking institutions, ensuring a […]

One of the clearest messages from CGAP’s initial work on climate change is that there is significant reason to worry about growing climate risk undermining the noteworthy progress that’s been made worldwide on financial inclusion.  Today, CGAP can share early evidence from Pakistan that confirms our fears. Pakistan has been beset by climate impacts over […]

President Donald Trump has long been preoccupied by the trade deficit — the gap between what the U.S. sells to the rest of the world and what it buys from it. He recently declared the issue a national emergency and used trade deficit data to calculate so-called “reciprocal tariffs” targeting nearly 100 countries. Although those […]