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How Informal Employment in Emerging Markets is Boosting Fintechs in Alternative Lending
The informal sector, which official GDP does not reflect, holds a significant share in the economies of developing countries. At the same time, if the volume of goods and services produced informally is rarely more than 40 percent of the official GDP, then the share of people employed off the books can be incomparably higher.
- Categories
- Finance
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Young, African, Employed – How A Ugandan Startup Aims to Mobilize the Continent’s Youth
Almost 80 percent of Ugandans are below the age of 30 – and many of them are struggling to generate a reliable livelihood. Hire the Youth is addressing this issue through online and in-person programs advancing youth employment and education, using a hybrid non-profit and for-profit model. Its founder, Ssenkubuge Kenneth, discusses the challenges the startup has faced – and how it has overcome them – as it aims to expand its services into other African countries.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Emerging Economies ‘More Open’ To AI For Business Management
The research study implied that although 84% of respondents think AI will make their job more interesting and effective, less than half that amount would trust its advice in business decisions.
- Categories
- Technology
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Pakistan Fights Poverty with A Gig Platform
A website similar to LinkedIn connects offline workers in the South Asian country with potential employers.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- employment
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Viewpoint: How AI will transform India’s job scene
It will prod policy-makers to re-skill workers, rethink social policy, and examine the employment potential of new sectors
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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The Force Awakens: Artificial Intelligence Is Coming – And It Isn’t Going to Put Poor Countries Out of Work
On a scale of polarizing topics in global development, none comes close to artificial intelligence. Everyone seems to have an opinion, and the ongoing war-of-words has drawn in everyone from Bill Gates to Elon Musk. But according to Brinda Sapra, a researcher at the Institute of Financial Management and Research, these arguments tend to gloss over the nuances of AI’s likely economic impact. In particular, she argues that alarmists and “Luddites” have overhyped the valid concerns about AI’s impact on jobs in emerging markets. She makes the case for optimism in this provocative post.
- Categories
- Technology
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In African cities, the “gig economy” is called the economy
For many African countries, the gig economy could just be called “the economy.” For example, just 17% of Kenyan employment is formal. Many of these economies are driven by the informal nature of the gainful employment that exists.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- employment
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The Impact of Inconsistency: Uncovering the Hidden Cost of Variable Work Schedules
There’s no shortage of apps and initiatives intended to help low-income people budget their money and boost their savings. But for millions of Americans, no amount of budgeting or discipline can overcome a lack of stable income. Studies show that almost 40 percent of working adults experience a drop in income at least one month per year, making it difficult to cover expenses like food, rent and other necessities. Analysts at Duke's Common Cents Lab explore the often-hidden impact of this problem – and discuss some ways product developers and employers could help.
- Categories
- Finance
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