May 2026

Old and new welfare states retaining older workers in the face of crisis: the case of COVID-19 in Europe

By Kun Lee The Coronavirus pandemic was a unique crisis in Europe as an unprecedented health and labour market shock barely disrupted long-term trends towards active ageing. We study the role of social policy responses and pre-existing welfare state institutions in moderating older workers’ early exit following the crisis. Using a cross-nationally harmonized panel survey in Europe, we examine whether variations in national labour market policies and pension institutions explain older workers’ exit outcomes following COVID-19, net of the economic...

Should Malaysia expand its social pension? Global evidence, design issues and options

By World Bank Group This study examines whether Malaysia should expand its social pension coverage and adequacy by drawing on global experiences and comparing them to the Malaysian context. It explores the impacts of social pensions on various social indicators and addresses key design issues for expansion. The paper concludes with recommendations for reforms, emphasizing the need to balance welfare and equity impacts with fiscal considerations. Get the report here

Financial Stability Review 2025

By Financial Stability Council The Financial Stability Review evaluates developments in Ghana’s financial system, with emphasis on policies implemented to mitigate emerging risks to financial stability. This report is organised into eight (8) chapters: macro-financial developments, developments in Ghana’s financial system, assessment of the Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Pensions Industries, financial sector resilience, and a special features section that highlights topical issues of relevance to financial stability. In this current edition, two new sections have been introduced – key Financial...

Informality, Gender and Aging. Cumulative Inequalities and Intergenerational Effects

By Haut Comissariat Au Plan Since 2021, His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s High Guidance on social development has driven a structural project to extend social protection, focusing on the expansion of mandatory health coverage, the gradual integration of self-employed workers into pension schemes, and the introduction of universal family allowances. The New Development Model sets out this vision by establishing objectives in terms of decent employment, the economic inclusion of women, and intergenerational sustainability. The analysis presented in this report examines, in...

New Economics of Retirement: New Solutions Provide a Ray of Hope

By Goldman Sachs In our annual Retirement Survey & Insights Report, we are pleased to present findings that may challenge conventional wisdom about retirement preparedness in America. While many acknowledge the looming retirement crisis, the traditional advice to simply save more may fail to account for the complex and evolving realities faced by millions of Americans. This year’s report introduces the "new economics of retirement,” as we grapple with the question “does the retirement math still work?” The report illustrates how rising costs...

Analysis of climate risk reporting across UK pension schemes

By XPS Group 2025 has shown that climate change is no longer a distant risk. It's a force that's already shaping economies, societies and investment markets. While government policy remains fragmented, UK pension schemes remain exposed to the risks of worsening climate outcomes, and to opportunities that arise from a faster transition to a green economy. Our fourth annual Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) review examines how 49 UK pension schemes, representing £420bn in assets, are addressing climate change...

Iran Conflict: How Long, and How Bad?

By Goldman Sachs The unprecedented US and Israeli coordinated attack on Iran has resulted in the largest energy supply disruption in history. With seemingly no end to the conflict in sight, its potential duration, impact on global energy supplies, and economic and market implications are Top of Mind. Chatham House’s Sanam Vakil and longtime US Middle East advisor Dennis Ross agree that an end to the conflict doesn’t look imminent owing to (the lack of) incentives on Iran’s side and...

ISSA Annual review 2025: Social security for a world in transition

By ISSA The International Social Security Association (ISSA) has launched its Annual review 2025, showcasing a year of strong achievements, innovation and global collaboration in social security. The Annual Review, titled Social security for a world in transition, highlights how the ISSA has supported its members in responding to profound demographic, economic and technological changes shaping societies worldwide. A dynamic year for the global ISSA community The review presents 2025 as an impactful year for the ISSA, marked by high levels of engagement, new...

April 2026

Informal Workers in Mexico: A Statistical Snapshot

By José de Jesús Luján Salazar & Joann Vanek In Mexico City and urban Mexico, women comprise 42 per cent and men 58 per cent of the labour force. In Mexico nationally, women’s share is slightly lower at 39 per cent. Between 2013 and 2019, employment in Mexico increased by more than 5 million workers but women’s share of employment did not increase significantly. The data in this brief are based on the second quarter of the 2013 and 2019 Encuesta Nacional...

Crypto-assets and decentralised finance. Report on stablecoins, crypto-investment products and multifunction groups : October 2025

By European Systemic Risk Board Financial stability risks are mounting in 2025 as crypto-assets, including stablecoins, go mainstream, buoyed by forceful US policy measures. By mid-2025, the crypto-asset market had reached record valuations, largely driven by US pro-crypto policies aimed at boosting demand for US Treasuries and reinforcing the dollar’s dominance. In this context, the ESRB’s General Board noted in June 2025 that the growing links between the crypto sector and the financial sector should be closely monitored. It also voiced...