Foreign direct investments (FDI) are more important source of development finance than official development assistance (ODA). On the other hand, FDI are more volatile while ODA provides stability over economic cycles,
The number of forcibly displaced people is the highest since the end of the Cold War and continues growing. International refugees are only a minor part of this number. Most forced displacements are internal due to civil wars.
Some people believe economic development can stop outward migration from poor to rich countries. This is true only beyond a certain income threshold. The reduction in poverty actually stimulates more migration during earlier stages of development.
Migration is not a recent phenomenon. It has been part of the human history since its very beginning. All humans can trace their origins to Africa.
Fossil fuels are limited and non-renewable. Around 2010, the world migh have passed the peak in oil production. However, human ingenuity and new discoveries of shale oil and gas have postponed the peak. For how long?
Since 1970s, labor income (wages) have decoupled from productivity gains. This suggests than higher share of economic benefits goes to capital holders than to workers.
Global poverty rate has been cut in half since 1990. East Asia (mainly China) was the most successful region, followed by South Asia (mainly India) while Sub-saharan Africa is lagging behind.
The share of 1% richest people in total US household income doubled over the last 50 years. If we zoom we find even more extreme rises in the share of 0.1% and 0.01%.
Who benefited the most from globalisation in the last decade? Not only rich people in rich countries but also the middle class in middle-income countries. And who lost the most? Not only poor people in poor countries but also the middle class in rich countries.
One third of planetary boundaries have already been crossed according to some scientists. This concerns in particular to climate change and the loss of biodiversity.