Estimates vary of the number of unintended pregnancies that occur worldwide each year, but recent data puts the number over 100 million, or nearly half of all annual pregnancies. The World Health Organization also notes unintended pregnancies can present numerous risks for both mother and child, from unsafe abortions, to higher vulnerability and risk of […]
By Emma Liu Following the US military withdrawal in August 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, and took over the state, catalyzing a series of crises amid great concern worldwide. Among the many social groups affected, women are now denied fundamental rights by the Taliban, including the rights to political participation, […]
By Emanne Khan Photographs of post-conflict peace negotiations typically feature government officials signing treaties, shaking hands or engaging in other acts of goodwill. Often missing from these images are the nongovernmental actors who may not sign treaties, but nonetheless play important roles in the negotiation process. For example, a single Italian non-governmental organization (NGO) was […]
By Mahesh Karra Over the summer, Boston University student researchers from the Human Capital Initiative returned to Africa after nearly two years to resume field projects, reconnect with colleagues and research partners, discuss research findings with local communities and policymakers and propose new initiatives with field teams. I led the BU team that launched and […]
By Anastasiia Arbuzova Investments in transport infrastructure are a long-proven driver of economic development. Transport can facilitate trade by connecting geographically distant areas, leading to economic integration and increased competitiveness of low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, increased mobility spurs human development since it allows for better access to healthcare, education and other essential services. Thus, […]
By Emanne Khan The Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar have been described by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as “one of, if not the, most discriminated people in the world.” Since 2017, more than 750,000 Rohingya have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar as refugees due to systematic persecution and targeted violence at the hands of Myanmar’s government, which […]
By Emanne Khan The word “infodemic” emerged nearly two decades ago when journalist David Rothkopf wrote in a 2003 Washington Post article about the then-ongoing global SARS outbreak, “A few facts, mixed with fear, speculation and rumor, amplified and relayed swiftly worldwide by modern information technologies, have affected national and international economies, politics and even […]
The converging roles of women and men in the labor market is one of the most significant economic and social developments of the past century. Nevertheless, gender equality in labor market outcomes has remained elusive, even for the most developed economies in the world. A growing literature documents a sharp divergence in labor market trajectories […]
By Laura Aquino Imagine you need to print your thesis or dissertation. You go to a print shop near Boston University, leave your manuscript and prepare to collect it in a couple of days. What would happen if, when collecting your thesis, you find that some pages were printed incorrectly? Would you have to pay […]
By Yunus Kurt Family planning is a series of important decisions on when/if to have children, and it involves a wide range of contraceptive methods. Abundance of contraceptive methods offers a larger set of alternatives to women in their contraceptive decision-making. However, a larger set of alternatives means more information to process and might introduce […]