
Economist's plan brings affordable clean energy to Africa
Industrialization could be the key to powering Africa's future, but the transition must be fair for all. 600 million Africans lack electricity, yet coal workers' livelihoods are at risk.
When economies work for people, everyone wins.

Industrialization could be the key to powering Africa's future, but the transition must be fair for all. 600 million Africans lack electricity, yet coal workers' livelihoods are at risk.

In 2026, 88 jurisdictions across the US will raise their minimum wages, with many reaching or exceeding the $15 per hour milestone. These regional increases signal a growing shift in how local leaders are addressing the realities of inflation, stagnant wages, and the pressures facing low-income workers.

For nearly 20 years, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has shaped how rural employment support works in India — offering wage work close to home, creating village-level assets, and providing income during lean agricultural seasons. Over time, it has become one of t...