global development research paper topics

143 Global Issues Topics for Students & Essay Samples

🔝 top-10 global issues topics for students, 🔥 hottest world issues to write about, 🏆 best global issues topic ideas & essay examples, 📉 global perspectives research questions: unemployment & poverty, ✍️ global issues essay topics for college, 🌱 global issues topics for essays on climate crisis, 📌 good essay topics on global issues, 🌍 issues in the world to write about: food & water deficits, 💡 interesting topics to write about global issues, ❓ global issues questions.

• Water Scarcity as a Global Issue: Causes and Solutions
• Reflection on Global Issues: Globalization of the Environment
• Anthropology in Solving Global Social Issues
• Gender Inequality as a Global Issue
• Illiteracy as a Global Issue
• The Great Global Warming Swindle: Different Views on the Issue
• Homelessness as a Global Social Issue
• Global Health Issue of Malaria
• Tuberculosis as a Global Health Issue
• Global Issues: Addressing an Aging Population

Threats of Climate Change

Write an essay about the threats climate change poses to many aspects of modern life. Describe its potentially devastating effects on the environment, weather, agriculture, and human and animal populations. Explain how this phenomenon can alter people’s lives on different continents and regions through population displacement, food shortages, and economic disparity.

Child Marriages and Gender-Based Violence

Make a paper criticizing the notions of child marriages and gender-based violence around the world. Provide statistics and facts that show the dangers of these practices and the long-term mental and physical effects they have on the victims. Explain the unique challenges girls and boys face in child marriages and the types of violence they experience.

Pandemics and Public Health System Challenges

Assess and analyze the challenges the public health system can encounter during pandemics. Evaluate the impact of financial struggles, pressure on the workforce, preparations, and the toll global illnesses take on the mental condition of the medical staff. Explain the best ways organizations can overcome these issues.

Sustainability and Strategies for the Promotion of Green Energy

Describe the top strategies for promoting green energy and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Write about creating awareness, getting current research, publishing information, making it accessible to all audiences, building interest, and promoting the importance of clean energy. Analyze the efficiency of each method and provide tips for improving them.

Global Unemployment Crisis

Analyze the current state of the unemployment crisis in 2024. Assess the reasons for the labor market imbalances, the slowed growth of productivity, and struggling employers. Explain how the 2020 pandemic still plays a role in this situation. Provide the latest statistics and facts about the global unemployment crisis, and how to get out of it.

• Global Health Issues Affecting International Community The HIV and tuberculosis pandemics have caused and will continue to present considerable challenges to emerging nations’ public health care systems, especially in the hardest-hit nations.
• Global Inequality Issues in Modern Society It was evident during the times of colonization when foreign entities tried to impose their sociopolitical and economic institutions on the developing nations.
• Global Issues, Climate Justice, and Human Overpopulation On the one hand, globalization has many positive aspects: the mutual enrichment of the world community, the exchange of best practices, and the availability of goods.
• Sustainability as an Urgent Global Issue Therefore, this shows the importance of integrating technology with other multidisciplinary teams to achieve quick and sustainable designs that can help in solving the urgent global issue.
• Global Issues, Common Good, and Individualism In such a case, the cohesion and commitment of each individual to shared goals and interests seem to solve the mentioned problems.
• Global Issues: Politics, Economics, and Culture by R.Payne The next chapter 14 reveals the issue of cultural homogenization and hybridization due to globalization. From the perspective of the biblical worldview, it largely determines the principles of the world.
• Global Ecological Issues of Covid-19 Pandemic The reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is due to the removal of cars on the streets, which account for about 23% of total CO2 emissions.
• Environmental and Global Health Issues: Measles Measles is among the most contagious disease in the world and is highly frequent and densely distributed in poor developing nations of Africa and Asia.
• Solving Global Issues May Not Be as Easy as It Seems The main point of the essay is to demonstrate how the inaction of those with power and money in the face of human suffering is purely immoral.
• Global Health Issue: The Coronavirus Disease Families have suffered unparalleled grief, anxiety, and distress from the increasing fatality, massive job losses, lockdowns, and movement restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.
• WHO and Its Impact on Global Health Issues The issues which are the center of attention of the World Health Organization are: Women’s Health Health In Africa Eradication of communicable diseases Dr Margaret Chan, the Director-General of World Health Organization said;”I want my […]
• Examination of a Global Population Issue of Russia The country is one of the richest in the world. The country also has the largest forest cover in the world, and the largest fresh water lake.
• Global Health Concerns Overview Title Report 1. Japan nuke risks are minimal The World Health Organization has sent alerts to global health experts to travel to Japan to prevent health hazards caused by radiation. WHO reported the health risks arising from the incident is very low and the current radiation level has no great risk on public health. In […]
• Global Issues Action Plan in the U.S. While drawbacks are the possibility of losing power that other states can use to influence the United States and the lack of protection from emerging military organizations and countries, such as China and Iran, that […]
• Global Health Issue Analysis: HIV – A Relatively New Disease Rapid detection and treatment are crucial to limit the spread of HIV and limit the patient’s effects. As the frequency and intensity of symptoms vary from person to person, testing is the only clear way […]
• Race as a Global Issue in the 1920s The main intention of prohibiting immigrants from entering the country was to block the Germans whom the Americans saw as a threat to their country.
• Global Digital Divide as a Social Issue That is, if societies around the globe are able to bridge the gap between those who have and those who do not in relation to information technology, then the development problems would be minimized at […]
• What’s the link between unemployment and poverty levels in the US?
• Which economic policies have been particularly effective in dealing with these issues?
• How did the number of poor and unemployed change over the past five years?
• How do European countries approach poverty and unemployment reduction?
• What are the long-term economic effects of prolonged unemployment rates?
• Does education play a role in lowering unemployment rates in Europe?
• How did the 2008 Financial Crisis influence employment in the US?
• What’s the effect of unemployment on a person’s physical and mental state?
• Which social and demographic factors increase one’s chances of unemployment?
• What’s the impact of the informal economy on poverty reduction in Asia?
• Global Warming Issues Review and Environmental Sustainability Whether it is the melt down of Arctic ice, the damage of the Ozone layer, extra pollution in developing countries; all sums up to one thing in common and that is global warming.
• Modern Global Issues: Drinking Water Shortage The situation is closely linked with the lack of water, and the offered technology to cope with this problem. This is the only way to use naturally filtered and sprang water.
• How Has Globalization Impacted on Issues of Human Rights? William Adler closely examines the disrupted lives of the three women who occupy an assembly-line job as the job and its company moves from New Jersey to rural Mississippi and to Matamoros, Mexico, across the […]
• Global Health Issue in the “Mother Teresa” Movie The movie is devoted to her immense donation to the universal HIV/AIDS struggle in India, but along with the help to HIV infected people, she made the greatest ever contribution to the matters of peace […]
• Malnutrition in Children as a Global Health Issue The peculiarity of this initiative is not to support children and control their feeding processes but prevent pediatric malnutrition even before a child is born.
• Adolescent Pregnancy as a Global Issue The wider the information system is, the more effective methods of solving problems related to the health of pregnant teens are.
• The Doha Round Effectiveness in Solving Global Issues Except for the Dispute Settlement Understanding actions, the attendees of the conference agreed that the outcome of all negotiations was to be done as a single undertaking.
• Cultural Competence in Action: Solutions to Global Health Issues In this paper, the analysis of several case studies about cultural competence will be discussed to clarify how to achieve positive results and reduce the wasting of resources. In the second case, certain attention is […]
• Polar Transformations as a Global Warming Issue Changes in vegetation due to global warming will be varying as the regions are covered with three main vegetation types: polar desert, boreal forest, and the tundra.
• Project Cost Management’s Global Issues and Challenges The results suggest the lack of identity for the profession on the global scale due to the lack of consensus regarding the common descriptor, the scarcity of common standards, terminology, and bodies of knowledge, and […]
• Project Cost Management: Global Issues and Challenges The information revealed by the author is likely to be beneficial for those individuals who are occupied in various fields but provide cost management services in the framework of the global construction industry.
• Natural Disasters and Global Social Issues The hurricane led to a major shift in the social arrangement of the populations in the worst affected areas. This led to a significant loss of jobs in the affected areas.
• Childhood Obesity in Developing Countries – A Global Health Issue Childhood Obesity and the Globe As mentioned earlier, according to the data of WHO, the number of obese children in the world today is more than 42 million, and the vast majority of them are […]
• Differing Views on Global Warming Issues It is crucial to bring on board the views of those who view global warming as a myth that need not to be addressed.
• Ethics-Related Global Workplace Issues Child labor also exposes the children to activities that are illegal. Forced labor is a form of slavery and should not be practiced anywhere in the world.
• Global Population Issues and Population in the UAE The natural resources will face exhaustion due to the great pressure of the population. Consequently, the governments of these countries will be forced to take measures to drive the fertility rates up to cover up […]
• The Link Between Climate Change and Food Shortages.
• The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity.
• How the Climate Crisis Induces Human Migration.
• Renewable Energy and the Battle Against Climate Change.
• The Effect of Climate Change on Public Health.
• The Economic Impact of Climate Change in North America.
• Best Anti-Climate Change Policies and Agreements.
• How Technology Can Reduce the Effects of Climate Change.
• Stopping the Climate Crisis by Stopping Deforestation.
• Raising Public Knowledge and Education about Climate Change.
• Global Issues for Global Citizens: An Introduction to Key Development Challenges
• Are Gender Rights and Gender Discrimination Global Issues
• Global Issues Regarding the Container Shipping
• Analysis of the Global Issues in Business
• Global Issues, Local Solutions: Rethinking Wealth and Health
• Climate Change and Pollution Are Serious Global Issues
• Compounded Global Issues: Terrorism, Nuclear Proliferation, and Climate Change
• Global Issues: Obesity, Inactivity, and Water-Crisis
• Environment-Related Global Issues: Global and Regional Conventions
• How Global Issues Are Resolved With the Scopes of Many Disciplines
• Explaining the Global Issues of Environment and Health
• Global Crimes Cause Global Issues That Affect the National
• The Alarming and Troublesome Global Warming Issue
• Analyzing How Global Issues Affect Tourism
• The Link Between Global Issues and Change in Human Resource Management
• The Relations Between the Global Issues and Institutions
• Global Issues Surrounding the Millennium Development Goals
• Analyzing Human Trafficking as a Global Issue
• Global Warming: An Issue That Is Man-Made?
• Immigration and Migration Described as the Global Issues
• The Impact of Climate Change on Food Production in India.
• Scenarios of Global Hunger and Malnutrition.
• Best Strategies for Food Waste and Loss Prevention.
• How the Climate Crisis Influences American Agriculture.
• The Influence of Conflict on Food Security.
• How Economic Policies Impact Food Prices.
• Primary Causes of Worldwide Water Scarcity.
• Water Pollution and its Impact on Supply.
• Access to Food & Water in Urban and Rural Areas.
• Best Water Management and Conversation Strategies.
• Analyzing Global Issues That Effect Everyone
• Environmental Issues: Chevron’s Contribution to Global Warming
• Global Issues We Are Facing Today
• Cigarette Smoking Relation to Global Issues of the Future
• Six Global Issues Associated With E-Commerce
• Global Issues: The Link Between Water Shortage and Child Mortality
• Analysis of the Innovation and Global Issues in Social Sciences
• The Relationships Between Internet, Computers, and Global Issues
• Global Issues Within the First Civilizations
• Legal and Global Issues Focused On Treating Undocumented Immigrants
• Analysis of the Poor News Coverage and Public Opinion on Global Issues
• Depicting Social and Global Issues and Trends in Adult Education
• The Global Issues Depicted in “Home”, a Documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
• Teaching for Sustainable Development Through Ethical Global Issues Pedagogy
• Terrorism and the Military: Global Issues of Today
• The Concept, Content, and Nature of Contemporary Global Issues
• The Gay Marriage Debate: Contemporary Global Issues
• The Analysis of the Global Issues and Threats of Nuclear Weapons
• Overview of the Significant Global Issues of Nowadays
• The Part of the U.S. and India in Global Issues On Women
• Are Gender Rights and Gender Discrimination Global Issues?
• What Are the Global Issues in Business?
• Are Climate Change and Pollution Serious Global Issues?
• Are Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation Global Issues?
• What Is the Role of Third World Countries in Global Environmental Issues?
• How Are Global Issues Solved With the Help of Many Disciplines?
• What Are the Social and Global Issues and Trends in Adult Education?
• What Institutions Can Solve Global Issues?
• What Are the Global Issues of Immigration and Migration?
• Do Global Issues Have Local Solutions?
• How Global Is the Issue of Obesity?
• What Are the Global Issues Related to Container Transportation?
• Is Child Mortality a Global Issue?
• What Are the Global Issues Associated With the Millennium Development Goals?
• What Were the Global Issues of the First Civilizations?
• What Global Issues Is Humanity Currently Facing?
• What Are the Global Issues Related to Human Resource Management?
• What Does Smoking Have to Do With Global Issues of the Future?
• How Do Global Issues Affect Individual States?
• What Is Public Opinion About Global Issues?
• What Are the Concepts, Meaning and Nature of Modern Global Issues?
• Gay Marriage: Is It a Modern Global Issue?
• What Are the US and India Global Issues Affecting Women?
• Global Issues: How to Fight Addiction to Video Games?
• What Are the Global Health Issues?
• Is Organized Crime a Global Issue in the World?
• How Can National Governments Solve the Global Issue of Climate Change?
• What Are Starbucks Global Issues?
• Why Is Global Cooperation Important to Address the Global Issues of Postharvest Losses?
• Is It Possible to Solve the Global Issue of PTSD?
• Environment Research Topics
• Gender Inequality Research Topics
• Human Rights Essay Ideas
• National Parks Research Topics
• Overpopulation Topics
• Nuclear Energy Essay Titles
• Poverty Essay Titles
• Racism Paper Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, September 25). 143 Global Issues Topics for Students & Essay Samples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/global-issues-essay-topics/

"143 Global Issues Topics for Students & Essay Samples." IvyPanda , 25 Sept. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/global-issues-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '143 Global Issues Topics for Students & Essay Samples'. 25 September.

IvyPanda . 2024. "143 Global Issues Topics for Students & Essay Samples." September 25, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/global-issues-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "143 Global Issues Topics for Students & Essay Samples." September 25, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/global-issues-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "143 Global Issues Topics for Students & Essay Samples." September 25, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/global-issues-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .

• How it works

Useful Links

How much will your dissertation cost?

Have an expert academic write your dissertation paper!

Dissertation Services

Get unlimited topic ideas and a dissertation plan for just £45.00

Order topics and plan

Get 1 free topic in your area of study with aim and justification

Yes I want the free topic

International Development Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 4th, 2023 , Revised On July 18, 2024

Undergraduate, Master and PhD students are awarded the degree only after they successfully complete their dissertations according to university guidelines. If you are required to complete a dissertation project on an international development topic that demonstrates your knowledge and expertise in the chosen study area but have no idea where to begin, then you are not alone.

Many students become victims of time constraints during this process. Others are just unsure of the topic that would best work for them. This article provides a list of well-researched international development dissertation topics for students to choose from.

A significant development has occurred in international development in the modern world. A precise set of standards must be mastered in order to produce flawless dissertations in this field. Most dissertation topics on the subject of an international development deal with potential commercial development within individual countries. The issue of conducting business overseas can also be addressed as part of the international development dissertation.

So without further ado, let’s now look at some interesting international development dissertation topics and ideas developed by our business writers.

Check our  free example dissertations and free business and business management dissertation examples to get an idea of how to structure your dissertation .

Related Links:

• Cooperate Governance Dissertation Topics
• Business Intelligence Dissertation Topics
• International Business Dissertation Topics
• Business Management Dissertation Topics
• Business Psychology Dissertation Topics
• Business Law Dissertation Topics
• Business Dissertation Topics
• HRM Dissertation Topics
• Management Dissertation Topics
• Operations Management Dissertation Topics

Below are some amazing international development dissertation topics for you:

• How may MNCs help reduce the rate of poverty in developing and undeveloped nations?
• Investigate how technology shapes labour markets in different countries.
• Service innovation and its effects on relationships between multicultural businesses
• The connection between FDIs and employment
• What will happen if several MNCs in South America and the UK work together with national governmental organizations?
• Has globalization impacted the demand for and supply of skilled workers?
• How does product development work in developing countries?
• The conflict between the UK pays inequality and international trade laws.
• Projects involving international business collaboration
• The effects of foreign investment on developing nations.
• Fostering the development of concepts in nations will give people a good existence.
• To examine how the lifestyle of people has changed.
• What effect does advancing human rights have, and what opportunities does it give people?
• What are emerging tactics for healthy meal consumption?
• How can we encourage relationships between diverse businesses?
• To assess the chances for international companies to grow their enterprises.
• To research how international marketing stress affected the expansion of enterprises on the global market.
• What consequences do HIV and Aids have in poor nations?
• How would you describe the economic strategy in developing nations?
• How does the global market offer fresh business tactics?
• Here are the top development studies. Does foreign direct investment effect develop nations?
• The rhetoric and practice of Nepal’s policy regarding medicinal plants are contrasted.
• A comparison of two types of bananas: Dollar and Fair Trade bananas
• An explanation for groundwater (non)government based on groundwater apathy: a case study of Pakistan’s Indus Basin
• Integrating conservation and sustainable development within designated natural areas in Mexico
• Sharing of information on preventing child labour and using kid migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, Thailand
• Networks, malandros, and social control: investigating the links between violence and inequality in Venezuela
• Perspectives and realities of poverty, livelihood, and risk for Nigeria’s poor people.
• Queering Cuba: What roles have non-conforming sexual and gender identities played in the country’s political, social, and economic life?
• Community-based rehabilitation: a successful strategy for people with disabilities in underdeveloped nations?

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service!

Consider any one of the above topics for your next dissertation. Our dissertation writers have addressed many international development themes in depth over the years, providing customised solutions to students. Feel free to contact us if you need assistance with the topic selection, proposal writing or the full dissertation paper.

Free Dissertation Topic

Phone Number

Academic Level Select Academic Level Undergraduate Graduate PHD

Academic Subject

Area of Research

Frequently Asked Questions

How to find international development dissertation topics.

For international development dissertation topics:

• Research global issues and challenges.
• Examine UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Analyze policies and their impacts.
• Study case studies from different regions.
• Explore cultural and economic factors.
• Choose a topic resonating with your passion and career objectives.

You May Also Like

Look at some of the potential healthcare dissertation topics mentioned below to take an idea for starting your dissertation.

Choosing a top-notch subject for academic research, such as business intelligence dissertation topics, provides the student with a wide range of cutting-edge research ideas.

Pick from any of our top 55 dissertation topic ideas on neuroscience and neurobiology available for your help with neuroscience dissertation and research.

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

COMPANY DETAILS

• How It Works

Click through the PLOS taxonomy to find articles in your field.

For more information about PLOS Subject Areas, click here .

Loading metrics

Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on the academic research agenda. A scientometric analysis

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Research Institute on Policies for Social Transformation, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Córdoba, Spain

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Public Policy Observatory, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliation Department of Finance and Accounting, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Córdoba, Spain

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Social Matters Research Group, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Córdoba, Spain

• Antonio Sianes, 
• Alejandro Vega-Muñoz, 
• Pilar Tirado-Valencia, 
• Antonio Ariza-Montes

• Published: March 17, 2022
• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409
• Peer Review
• Reader Comments

Today, global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and sustainability are at the core of the academic debate. This centrality has only increased since the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose scope is to shift the world on to a path of resilience focused on promoting sustainable development. The main purpose of this paper is to develop a critical yet comprehensive scientometric analysis of the global academic production on the SDGs, from its approval in 2015 to 2020, conducted using Web of Science (WoS) database. Despite it being a relatively short period of time, scholars have published more than five thousand research papers in the matter, mainly in the fields of green and sustainable sciences. The attained results show how prolific authors and schools of knowledge are emerging, as key topics such as climate change, health and the burden diseases, or the global governance of these issues. However, deeper analyses also show how research gaps exist, persist and, in some cases, are widening. Greater understanding of this body of research is needed, to further strengthen evidence-based policies able to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the SDGs.

Citation: Sianes A, Vega-Muñoz A, Tirado-Valencia P, Ariza-Montes A (2022) Impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on the academic research agenda. A scientometric analysis. PLoS ONE 17(3): e0265409. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409

Editor: Stefano Ghinoi, University of Greenwich, UNITED KINGDOM

Received: September 10, 2021; Accepted: March 1, 2022; Published: March 17, 2022

Copyright: © 2022 Sianes et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files.

Funding: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

1. Introduction

1.1. from the millennium agenda to the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals (sdgs).

To track the origins of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must recall the Millennium Agenda, which was the first global plan focused on fighting poverty and its more extreme consequences [ 1 ]. Approved in 2000, its guiding principle was that northern countries should contribute to the development of southern states via Official Development Assistance (ODA) flows. The commitment was to reach 0.7% of donors’ gross domestic product [ 2 ] to reduce poverty by half by 2015. The relative failure to reach this goal and the consolidation of a discourse of segregation between northern and southern countries [ 3 ] opened the door to strong criticism of the Millennium Agenda. Therefore, as 2015 approached, there were widespread calls for a profound reformulation of the system [ 4 ].

The world in 2015 was very different from that in the early 2000s. Globalization had reached every corner of the world, generating development convergence between countries but increasing inequalities within countries [ 5 , 6 ]. Increasing interest in the environmental crisis and other global challenges, such as the relocation of work and migration flows, consolidated a new approach to development and the need of a more encompassed agenda [ 7 ]. This new agenda was conceived after an integrating process that involved representatives from governments, cooperation agencies, nongovernmental organisations, global business, and academia. The willingness of the 2030 Agenda to ‘leave no one behind’ relies on this unprecedented global commitment by the international community [ 8 ].

As a result of this process, in 2015, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the document “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” [ 9 ], later known as the 2030 Agenda. This new global agenda is an all-comprising strategy that seeks to inform and orient public policies and private interventions in an extensive range of fields, from climate change to smart cities and from labour markets to birth mortality, among many others.

The declared scope of the Agenda is to shift the world on to a path of resilience focused on promoting sustainable development. To do so, the 2030 Agenda operates under the guidance of five principles, formally known as the ‘5 Ps’: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships [ 10 ]. With these pivotal concepts in mind, the Agenda has established a total of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 specific targets to be pursued in a 15-year period, which reflects the scale and profound ambition of this new Agenda.

The SDGs do not only address what rich countries should do for the poor but rather what all countries should do together for the global well-being of this and future generations [ 4 ]. Thus, the SDGs cover a much broader range of issues than their predecessors, the Millennium Development Goals [ 11 ], and are intended to be universal on the guidance towards a new paradigm of sustainable development that the international community has been demanding since the 1992 Earth Summit [ 7 , 12 , 13 ].

Despite this potential, some criticise their vagueness, weakness, and unambitious character. Fukuda-Parr [ 14 ], see weaknesses on the simplicity of the SDGs, which can lead to a very narrow conception that reduces the integral concept of development. The issue of measurement is also problematic; for some researchers, the quantification of objectives not only reduces their complexity, but leads to them being carried out without considering the interdependencies between the objectives [ 12 , 13 ]. Other authors have identified difficulties associated with specifying some of the less visible, intangible aspects of their qualitative nature such as inclusive development and green growth [ 14 , 15 ]. Finally, Stafford-Smith et al. [ 16 ] state that their successful implementation also requires paying greater attention to the links across sectors, across societal actors and between and among low-, medium-, and high-income countries.

Despite these criticisms, the SDGs have undoubtedly become the framework for what the Brundtland report defined as our common future. Unlike conventional development agendas that focus on a restricted set of dimensions, the SDGs provide a holistic and multidimensional view of development [ 17 ]. In this line, Le Blanc [ 12 ] concludes that the SDGs constitute a system with a global perspective; because they consider the synergies and trade-offs between the different issues involved in sustainable development, and favour comprehensive thinking and policies.

1.2. Towards a categorization of the SDGs

There is an underlying lack of unanimity in the interpretation of the SDGs, which has given rise to alternative approaches that allow categorizing the issues involved in their achievement without losing sight of the integral vision of sustainable development [ 15 , 18 – 23 ]. However, such categorization of the SDGs makes it possible to approach them in a more holistic and integrated way, focusing on the issues that underlie sustainable development and on trying to elucidate their connections.

Among the many systematization proposals, and following the contributions of Hajer et al. [ 19 ], four connected perspectives can strengthen the universal relevance of the SDGs: a) ‘planetary boundaries’ that emphasize the urgency of addressing environmental concerns and calling on governments to take responsibility for global public goods; b) ‘The safe and just operating space’ to highlight the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues and their consequences for the redistribution of wealth and human well-being; c) ‘The energetic society’ that avoids the plundering of energy resources; and d) ‘green competition’ to stimulate innovation and new business practices that limit the consumption of resources.

Planetary boundaries demand international policies that coordinate efforts to avoid overexploitation of the planet [ 24 ]. Issues such as land degradation, deforestation, biodiversity loss and natural resource overexploitation exacerbate poverty and deepen inequalities [ 21 , 25 – 27 ]. These problems are further compounded by the increasing impacts of climate change with clear ramifications for natural systems and societies around the globe [ 21 , 28 ].

A safe and just operating space implies social inclusivity that ensures equity principles for sharing opportunities for development [ 15 , 29 ]. Furthermore, it requires providing equitable access to effective and high-quality preventive and curative care that reduces global health inequalities [ 30 , 31 ] and promotes human well-being. Studies such as that of Kruk et al. [ 32 ] analyse the reforms needed in health systems to reduce mortality and the systemic changes necessary for high-quality care.

An energetic society demands global, regional and local production and consumption patterns as demands for energy and natural resources continue to increase, providing challenges and opportunities for poverty reduction, economic development, sustainability and social cohesion [ 21 ].

Finally, green competition establishes limits to the consumption of resources, engaging both consumers and companies [ 22 ] and redefining the relationship between firms and their suppliers in the supply chain [ 33 ]. These limits must also be introduced into life in cities, fostering a new urban agenda [ 34 , 35 ]. Poor access to opportunities and services offered by urban centres (a function of distance, transport infrastructure and spatial distribution) is a major barrier to improved livelihoods and overall development [ 36 ].

The diversification of development issues has opened the door to a wide range of new realities that must be studied under the guiding principles of the SDGs, which involve scholars from all disciplines. As Saric et al. [ 37 ] claimed, a shift in academic research is needed to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The identification of critical pathways to success based on sound research is needed to inform a whole new set of policies and interventions aimed at rendering the SDGs both possible and feasible [ 38 ].

1.3. The relevance and impact of the SDGs on academic research

In the barely five years since their approval, the SDGs have proven the ability to mobilize the scientific community and offer an opportunity for researchers to bring interdisciplinary knowledge to facilitate the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda [ 21 ]. The holistic vision of development considered in the SDGs has impacted very diverse fields of knowledge, such as land degradation processes [ 25 , 26 ], health [ 39 ], energy [ 40 ] and tourism [ 41 ], as well as a priori further disciplines such as earth observation [ 42 ] and neurosurgery [ 43 ]. However, more importantly, the inevitable interdependencies, conflicts and linkages between the different SDGs have also emerged in the analyses, highlighting ideas such as the need for systemic thinking that considers the spatial and temporal connectivity of the SDGs, which calls for multidisciplinary knowledge. According to Le Blanc [ 12 ], the identification of the systemic links between the objectives can be a valuable undertaking for the scientific community in the coming years and sustainable development.

Following this line, several scientific studies have tried to model the relationships between the SDGs in an attempt to clarify the synergies between the objectives, demonstrating their holistic nature [ 12 , 17 , 20 , 44 , 45 ]. This knowledge of interdependencies can bring out difficulties and risks, or conversely the drivers, in the implementation of the SDGs, which will facilitate their achievement [ 22 ]. In addition, it will allow proposing more transformative strategies to implement the SDG agenda, since it favours an overall vision that is opposed to the false illusion that global problems can be approached in isolation [ 19 ].

The lack of prioritisation of the SDGs has been one of the issues raised regarding their weakness, which should also be addressed by academics. For example, Gupta and Vegelin [ 15 ] analyse the dangers of inclusive development prioritising economic issues, relegating social or ecological inclusivity to the background, or the relational aspects of inclusivity that guarantee the existence of laws, policies and global rules that favour equal opportunities. Holden et al. [ 46 ] suggest that this prioritisation should be established according to three moral criteria: the satisfaction of human needs, social equity and respect for environmental limits. These principles must be based on ethical values that, according to Burford et al. [ 47 ], constitute the missing pillar of sustainability. In this way, the ethical imperatives of the SDGs and the values implicit in the discourses on sustainable development open up new possibilities for transdisciplinary research in the social sciences [ 46 , 47 ].

Research on SDG indicators has also been relevant in the academic world, as they offer an opportunity to replace conventional progress metrics such as gross domestic product (GDP) with other metrics more consistent with the current paradigm of development and social welfare that takes into account such aspects as gender equality, urban resilience and governance [ 20 , 48 ].

The study of the role of certain development agents, including companies, universities or supranational organisations, also opens up new areas of investigation for researchers. Some studies have shown the enthusiastic acceptance of the SDGs by companies [ 22 , 49 ]. For Bebbington and Unerman [ 50 ], the study of the role of organisations in achieving the SDGs should be centred around three issues: challenging definitions of entity boundaries to understand their full impacts, introducing new conceptual frameworks for analysis of the context within which organisations operate and re-examining the conceptual basis of justice, responsibility and accountability. On the other hand, the academic community has recognized that knowledge and education are two basic pillars for the transition towards sustainable development, so it may also be relevant to study the responsibility of higher education in achieving the SDGs [ 47 , 50 ]. Institutional sustainability and governance processes are issues that should be addressed in greater depth through research [ 47 ].

Finally, some authors have highlighted the role of information technologies (ICT) in achieving the SDGs [ 23 ] and their role in addressing inequality or vulnerability to processes such as financial exclusion [ 51 ], which opens up new avenues for research.

Despite this huge impact of the SDGs on academic research, to the best of our knowledge, an overall analysis of such an impact to understand its profoundness and capillarity is missing in the literature. To date, reviews have focused on the implementation of specific SDGs [ 52 – 61 ], on specific topics and collectives [ 62 – 70 ], on traditional fields of knowledge, now reconsidered in light of the SDGs [ 71 – 73 ] and on contributions from specific regions or countries [ 74 , 75 ]. By relying on scientometric techniques and data mining analyses, this paper collects and analyses the more than 5,000 papers published on the SDGs to pursue this challenging goal and fill this knowledge gap.

This article aims to provide a critical review of the scientific research on SDGs, a concept that has emerged based on multiple streams of thinking and has begun to be consolidated as of 2015. As such, global references on this topic are identified and highlighted to manage pre-existing knowledge to understand relationships among researchers and with SDG dimensions to enhance the presently dispersed understanding of this subject and its areas of further development. A scientometric meta-analysis of publications on SDGs is conducted to achieve this objective. Mainstream journals from the Web of Science (WoS) are used to identify current topics, the most involved journals, the most prolific authors, and the thematic areas around which the current academic SDG debate revolves.

Once Section 1 has revised on the related literature to accomplish the main objective, Section 2 presents the research methodology. Section 3 presents the main results obtained, and Section 4 critically discusses these results. The conclusion and the main limitations of the study are presented in Section 5.

2. Materials and methods

In methodological terms, this research applies scientometrics as a meta-analytical means to study the evolution of documented scientific knowledge on the Sustainable Development Goals [ 76 – 81 ], taking as a secondary source of information academic contributions (i.e. articles, reviews, editorials, etc.) indexed in the Web of Science (WoS). To ensure that only peer-reviewed contributions authored by individual researchers are retrieved and that such publications have a worldwide prestige assessment, all of them should be published on journals indexed in the Journal Citation Report (JCR), either as part of the Sciences Citation Index Expanded or the Social Sciences Citation Index [ 82 – 84 ].

Following the recommendations of previous studies [ 85 ], it was decided to apply the next search vector from 2015 to 2020 to achieve the research objectives TS = (Sustainable NEAR/0 Development NEAR/0 Goals), which allows the extraction of data with 67 fields for each article registered in WoS.

As the first step, to give meaning to subsequent analyses, we tested the presence of exponential growth in the production of documented knowledge that allows a continuous renewal of knowledge [ 76 , 86 ].

As a second action, given the recent nature of the subject studied, it is of interest to map the playing field [ 87 ] using VOSviewer software version 1.6.16 [ 88 ], to know which topics are most addressed in the matter of SDGs. This analysis seeks an approach, both through the concentration of Keyword Plus® [ 89 ] and by analysing the references used as input in the production of knowledge, which can be treated as cocitations, coupling-citations and cross-citations [ 90 ], using the h-index, in citation terms, as discriminant criteria in the selection of articles [ 91 – 93 ]. This methodology will allow us to establish production, impact and relationship metrics [ 80 , 85 , 87 , 94 , 95 ].

Finally, it is of interest to explore the possible concentrations that may arise. Using Lotka’s Law, we estimated the possible prolific authors and their areas of work in SDGs, and using Bradford’s Law, we conducted a search of a possible adjustment to a geometric series of the concentration zones of journals and therefore a potential nucleus where a profuse discussion on SDGs is taking place [ 96 – 100 ].

3.1. Configuration of the academic production on SDGs

The results present a total of 5,281 articles for a period of six years (2015–2020) in 1,135 journals, with over 60% of these documents published in the last two years. The total of articles is distributed among authors affiliated with 7,418 organisations from 181 countries/regions, giving thematic coverage to 183 categories of the Journal Citation Report-Web of Science (JCR-WoS). Table 1 shows the distribution among the top ten JCR-WoS categories, highlighting the prevalence of journals indexed in green and environmental sciences and, thus, in the Science Index-Expanded.

• PPT PowerPoint slide
• PNG larger image
• TIFF original image

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t001

3.2. Existence of research critical mass

Fig 1 shows the regression model for the period 2015–2020, the last year with complete records consolidated in the Web of Science. The results obtained show significant growth in the number of studies on SDGs, with an R 2 adjustment greater than 96%. The exponential nature of the model shows that a ‘critical mass’ is consolidating around the research on this topic, as proposed by the Law of Exponential Growth of Science over Time [ 76 ], which in some way gives meaning to this research and to obtaining derived results.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.g001

3.3. Establishment of concentrations

In accordance with Lotka’s Law, 22,336 authors were identified of the 5,281 articles under study. From this author set, 136 (≈sqrt (22,336)) are considered prolific authors with a contribution to nine or more works. However, a second restriction, even more demanding, is to identify those prolific authors who are also prolific in contemporary terms. Although SDG studies are recent, the growth production rates are extremely high. As previously shown, for the period 2015–2020, 64% of the publications are concentrated between 2019–2020. Based on this second restriction, for 3,400 articles of the 5,281 articles published in 2019 and 2020, and a total of 15,120 authors, only eight prolific authors manage to sustain a publication number that equals or exceeds nine articles. These authors are listed and characterized in Table 2 .

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t002

The analysis shown in Table 2 highlights the University of Washington’s participation in health issues with Murray and Hay (coauthors of eight articles in the period 2019–2020), who are also important in the area of health for the prolific authors Yaya and Bhutta. The environmental SDGs mark a strong presence with Abhilash, Leal-Filho and Kalin. The affiliation of Abhilsash (Banaras Hindu University) is novel, as it is not part of the classic world core in knowledge production that is largely concentrated in the United States and Europe. It is worth noting that other prolific authors belong to nonmainstream knowledge production world areas, such as Russia or Pakistan. Professor Alola also deserves mention; not only is he the only contemporary prolific author producing in the area of economics, but he is also producing knowledge in Turkey.

In the same way, at the journal level, the potential establishment of concentration areas and determination of a deep discussion nucleus are analysed using Bradford’s law.

With a percentage error of 0.6%, between the total journal number and the total journal number estimated by the Bradford series, the database shows a core of 18 journals (2%) where one in three articles published are concentrated (see Table 3 ).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t003

Regarding the number of contributions by journal, Sustainability has the largest number of studies on SDGs, in which 689 (13%) of the 5,281 articles studied are concentrated. The Journal of Cleaner Production, indexed to WoS categories related to Environmental SDGs, is the second most prominent journal, with 2.7% participation of the articles (147). Both journals are followed by the multidisciplinary journal Plos One, with 2.2% of the total dataset. In terms of impact factor, the 60 points of the health journal The Lancet are superlative in the whole, which in the other cases ranges between 2.000 and 7.246. As shown in Table 4 , we have developed a “Prominence ranking” by weighting article production by impact factor. This metric shows The Lancet, with only 40 articles on SDGs, as the most relevant journal, followed by Sustainability, which becomes relevant due to the high number of publications (689) despite an impact factor of 2.576. These journals are followed by the Journal of Cleaner Production with 147 articles and an impact factor of 7.246.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t004

3.4. Thematic coverage

Concerning the thematic coverage, Fig 2A and 2B show a diversity of 7,003 Keyword Plus® (KWP), consistently connected to a total of 7,141 KWP assigned by Clarivate as metadata to the set of 5,281 articles studied, which presents a strong concentration in a small number of terms (red colour in the heat map generated with VOSviewer version 1.6.16).

a) Keywords Plus® heatmap and b) heat map zoom to highlight the highest concentration words, data source WoS, 2020.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.g002

Based on this result, a concentration sphere with 85 KWP (= sqrt (7,141)) is established according to Zipf’s Law, which is presented in 50 or more articles out of the total of 5,281. Moreover, a central concentration sphere of 9 KWPs (= sqrt (85)) can be found, with keywords present in a range of 178 to 346 articles out of a total of 5,281. These nine pivotal keywords are all connected in terms of co-occurrence (associated by Clarivate two or more to the same article) and within papers with an average number of citations in WoS that vary from 9.27 to 16.69, as shown in Table 5 . The nine most prominent key words in relation to the study of the SDGs are health, climate change, management, impact, challenges, governance, systems, policy and framework. These terms already suggest some of the themes around which the debate and research in this area revolves.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t005

The prominence of these keywords is obtained by combining the level of occurrence and average citations (see Table 5 ): on the one hand, the occurrence or number of articles with which the KWP is associated (e.g., Management, 346) and, on the other hand, the average citations presented by the articles associated with these words (e.g., Framework. 9.27). The final score (prominence) mixes both concepts, given the product of the occurrences and the average citations of each KWP in proportion to the mean values (e.g., (330 * 16.69)/(246 * 11.96) = 1.9).

3.5. Relations within the academic contributions

The coupling-citation analysis using VOSviewer identifies the 5,281 articles under study, of which only those found in the h-index as a whole have been considered (the h-index in the database is 81, as there are 81 articles cited 81 or more times). The bibliographic coupling analysis found consistent connections in only 73 of these articles, gathered in seven clusters. Such clusters and unconnected articles are represented in Fig 3 .

Data source WoS. 2020.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.g003

In simple terms, discrimination belonging to one cluster or another depends on the total link number that an article has with the other 80 articles based on the use of the common references. Table 6 specifies the articles belonging to the same publication cluster in relation to Fig 3 .

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t006

Bibliographic coupling analysis can also be used to link the seven clusters that use common references with the field document title (TI), publication name (SO), Keyword Plus-KWP (ID), and research areas (SC). This allows the identification of the main topics of each cluster. As shown in Table 7 , cluster 1 (red) concerns environmental and public affairs; cluster 2 (green), health; cluster 3 (blue), economics; cluster 4 (yellow), health–the burden of disease; cluster 5 (violet), economics–Kuznets curve; cluster 6 (light blue), energy; and cluster 7 (orange), soil—land.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t007

3.6. Outstanding contributions in the field

The cocitation analysis identified a total of 232,081 references cited by the 5,281 articles under study. It suggests taking as references to review those that present 44 or more occurrences in the database (232,081/5,281). This method results in 34 articles that have been used as main inputs for the scientific production under analysis, cited between 44 and 504 times. A result worth highlighting is that one in three of these documents corresponds to reports from international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), World Bank Group (WB) or World Health Organization (WHO). However, it is also possible to identify 21 peer-reviewed scientific contributions. These papers are identified in detail in Table 8 .

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.t008

The cocitation analysis yields the degree of relationship of these 21 most cited research articles. It is how such references have been used simultaneously in the same article. Fig 4 displays this information (to help readers, it has also been included in Table 8 , centrality in 21 column).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.g004

According to the relationship level in the most cited article’s selection, the graph ( Fig 3 ) has been clustered in three colours: cluster 1 in red colour groups the highest articles proportion (9) published between 2013 and 2017 in 7 journals. These journals present an impact factor (IF) quite heterogeneous, with values ranging from 2.576 (Sustainability) to 60.39 (Lancet) and indexed in one or more of the following WoS categories: Environmental Sciences (4 journals), Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (4), Environmental Studies (2), Development Studies (1), Medicine, General & Internal (1), Multidisciplinary Sciences (1) and Regional & Urban Planning (1). Three of these articles are cited 130–150 times in the 5,281-article dataset and, at the same time, show a connection centrality of 95–100% with the other 20 articles in the graph, implying a high level of cocitation. The other two clusters group six articles each. The articles of cluster 2 (green colour) are included in a widespread WoS category set: Environmental Sciences (3 journals), Geosciences, Multidisciplinary (2), Ecology (1), Economics (1), Energy & Fuels (1), Environmental Studies (1), Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (1), Materials Science, Multidisciplinary (1), Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences (1) and Multidisciplinary Sciences (1). The research of Nilsson [ 101 ] was used as a reference in 176 of the 5,281 articles under study, showing a centrality of 100%. This great connection level is also featured in another less cited article [ 17 ] published in Earth’s Future. Finally, cluster 3 (blue) highlights six articles concentrated in three highly cited journals in the WoS categories: Medicine, General & Internal (Lancet) and Multidisciplinary Sciences (Nature and Science), whose IFs range from 41.9 to 60.4. In general, they are articles less connected (cocited) to the set of 21, with centralities of 30–90%. Two of these articles were referenced 140 times or more, although one was published in 2009. Thus, cluster 3 concentrates the references mainly in journals on environmental issues with scientific-technological orientation, as well as classic and high-impact WoS journals (The Lancet, Nature and Science). It is worth noting that some of these top journals may not be listed in Table 4 as they are not included in the Bradford’s nucleus, due to their comparatively low number of contributions published.

Finally, continuing with the thematic study, a cross-citation analysis was developed. Considering only the 81 articles that are part of the h-index of the total set of 5,821 articles under study, the citations that are presented among this elite article set are explored using VosViewer. The cross-citation analysis detects existing relationships between 37 of these 81 articles. Once the directionality of the citations has been analysed, a directed temporal graph is generated using Pajek 64 version 5.09, which is presented in Fig 5 .

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.g005

Fig 5 shows how these 37 highly cited articles are related to each other (the number after the name is the publication year), considering that some of these articles are cited as references in other articles in this set. The relationships between the articles in Fig 5 are complex and should be understood under a temporal sequence logic in the citation between two articles. However, some trends can be highlighted.

On the one hand, some contributions stand out for their centrality. Lim et al. [ 102 ] is connected with eight of the 37 articles (21.6%) on citing relationships, as is Fullman et al. [ 27 ], which relates to seven of the 37 articles (18.9%). Both authors researched health issues and are also coauthors of nine articles of the dataset under study. On the other hand, according to the SDG segmentation proposed, Hajer et al. [ 19 ] and Le Blanc [ 12 ] are recognized as seminal articles in social SDGs, since they contribute to the production of other subsequent articles in the set of 37. On the other hand, in health matters, seminal articles are Norheim et al. [ 103 ] and You et al. [ 104 ], two articles published in The Lancet whose citations also contribute to the production of the set introduced as Fig 5 .

4. Discussion

The main purpose of this paper was to develop a critical and comprehensive scientometric analysis of the global academic literature on the SDGs from 2015 to 2020, conducted using the WoS database. The attained results have made it possible to comprehend and communicate to the scientific community the current state of the debate on the SDGs, thus offering insights for future lines of research.

To achieve the objectives, the present study analysed a broad spectrum of 5,281 articles published in 1,135 WoS journals. A first aspect that is striking is the great diversity of topics addressed in these studies, which reflects the multidimensionality of the SDGs. Despite this, more than half of the articles are concentrated in two JCR-WoS categories (Environmental Sciences and Green Sustainable Science Technology), a percentage that exceeds 80% if the categories Environmental Studies and Public Environmental Occupational Health are added. Thus, on the one hand, the size of the body of literature and the broad spectrum of topics more than covers the four perspectives of analysis that are relevant in research on the SDGs, according to Hajer et al. [ 19 ]: planetary boundaries, the safe and just operating space, the energetic society and, last, green competition. However, on the other hand, results also highlight a strong focus on the environmental aspects of the SDGs, which undoubtedly concentrate the most contributions.

The Sustainable Development Goals constitute an area of research that has experienced exponential scientific growth, a tendency already suggested by previous studies [ 81 , 105 ], thus complying with the fundamental principles of Price’s law [ 76 ], which suggests the need for this exponential growth to manifest a continuous renewal of knowledge on the subject under study. The results of this study highlight a significant increase in the number of articles published in the last two years, given that six out of ten articles were published in 2019 or 2020. This tendency confirms how the SDGs continue to arouse great interest in the scientific community and that the debate on the interpretation of sustainable development is still open and very present in academia.

The variety of knowledge areas from which science can approach the SDGs demonstrates the different avenues that exist to address different research questions and their multidimensional nature, as anticipated by Pradhan et al. [ 17 ], a dispersion not far from the traditional fields of knowledge or the conventional dimensions of sustainability. Investigating the reasons for this dispersion in academic research on the SDGs may be a topic of great interest, as anticipated by Burford et al. [ 47 ] and Le Blanc [ 12 ], since understanding the phenomenon of development can only be achieved if the main challenges, both current and future, can be viewed holistically and comprehensively. Along these lines, Imaz and Eizagirre [ 106 ] state that the complexity of the study of the SDGs is undoubtedly marked by their aspiration for universality, by their broad scope encompassing the three basic pillars of sustainable development (economic development, environmental sustainability and social inclusion) and by their desire for integration, motivated by the complexity of the challenges and by the countless interlinkages and interdependencies.

This natural multidimensionality of the SDGs calls for strong cooperation and collaboration between researchers, universities, and countries. In this sense, the scientometric analysis provides good news, as more than a hundred prolific authors (defined as those authors who have published nine or more articles on this topic) have been identified, although these are reduced to eight in contemporary terms (2019 or 2020). This select group of eight authors who lead research and publishing on the SDGs (sometimes with dual or triple affiliations) produce knowledge for universities and research centres both in the global north and the global south: Canada, the U.S., the UK, Germany, Pakistan, Turkey, India, Benin, Russia and Cyprus. The protagonist role played by research institutes in countries in the north has already been acknowledged by previous studies [ 81 , 105 ]. However, the emergence of top scholars producing academic knowledge from developing countries is a more recent tendency, which underscores the pertinence of this analysis.

A closer look at the academic and research curricula of these authors leads to the conclusion that the study of the SDGs does not constitute a final field of research at present. These researchers come from very heterogeneous disciplines, so their approach to the SDGs is also multidisciplinary. To illustrate it with an example, the most cited article by Professor Abhilash of Banaras Hindu University (the most published contemporary prolific author along with Christopher Murray of the University of Washington), with 363 WoS citations in February 2021 alone, is on the use and application of pesticides in India.

In more concrete terms, following Wu et al.’s [ 23 ] classification as a frame of reference, the eight most prolific contemporary authors approach the SDG research problem from two main domains, one of an environmental nature (Abhilash, Leal-Filho, Alola and Kalin) and the other related to health (Murray, Yaya, Bhutta, and Hay). The most common journals where these authors publish on environmental issues are the Journal of Cleaner Production, Higher Education, Water and Science of the Total Environment. Health researchers, on the other hand, tend to publish mainly in the journals of the BMC group, The Lancet and Nature.

This wide diversity of academic fora can be clarified with the application of Bradford’s laws, which identified a core of 18 journals that bring together the debates and academic discussions about the SDGs. It is worth noting that the 18 journals that form the core are distributed in 16 different thematic areas or WoS categories: Development Studies; Ecology; Economics; Education & Educational Research; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies; Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism; International Relations; Medicine, General & Internal; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Regional & Urban Planning; and Water Resources. On the one hand, this wide dispersion in terms of areas of knowledge suggests that research on the SDGs can be studied from different approaches and disciplines, which opens up a wide range of possibilities for researchers from different branches of scientific knowledge, as well as an opportunity for multidisciplinary collaborations. On the other hand, this heterogeneity might also hinder the communication and dissemination of learning from one field to another. The cross-citation analysis provided in Fig 5 suggests this possibility, as seminal works are related to thematic disciplines more than to the seminal contributions identified in Table 8 .

In this sense, it is interesting to analyse the top-cited articles in the database, as they provide a clear picture of the field of knowledge. One-third of these contributions are provided by international institutions, such as the United Nations Development Program or the World Bank, which provide analyses of a normative nature. This prevalence reflects some weaknesses in the academic basis of the analysis of the SDGs as a whole from a scientific approach, an idea reinforced when the most cited papers are analysed. In fact, only six papers have reached more than 100 citations by contributions included in the database [ 4 , 12 , 24 , 29 , 101 , 107 ]. Not only were these papers largely published before the approval of the SDGs themselves, but half of them are editorial material, inviting contributions but are not evidence-based research papers. Highlighting the nature of the most cited contributions does not diminish their value but does speak to the normative approach that underlies the analysis of the SDGs when addressed not individually but as an overall field of research.

Regarding topics and themes of interest, the scientometric analysis carried out in this research identified a strong concentration around a small number of terms, as represented in a heat map ( Fig 2A and 2B ). All these topics constitute a potential source of inspiration for future research on the subject.

Through an analysis of the main keywords, it can be seen that the studies focused on the traditional areas of health and climate change. However, these keywords also provide new elements for discussion, as they uncover some other areas of study that have been highlighted by the literature. First, the appearance of the term Management as one of the main keywords reveals the importance that researchers give to the role of business in achieving the SDGs, as already suggested by Scheyvens et al. [ 49 ] and Spangenber [ 22 ]. Second, the need to address new governance processes and to seek global solutions, as suggested by authors such as Sachs [ 4 ], underscore the keywords Governance, Policy and Framework, all aspects deemed crucial for the achievement of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda [ 108 ]. Finally, other keywords such as Impact, Challenges or Systems are a clear example of the complexity and interdependencies that exist in research on the SDGs, considered an essential aspect by Griggs et al. [ 13 ] or Le Blanc [ 12 ]. The attained results highlight some of the connections between different domains of sustainable development by identifying categories and themes that are highly related in the groupings that emerge from the bibliographic coupling analysis.

In general terms, the holistic vision of development embodied by the SDGs has drawn the attention of very different disciplines, fields and areas of scientific knowledge. However, seven major areas of research have emerged: environmental and public affairs, health, economics, health-burden of disease, economics-Kuznets curve, energy and soil-land. These areas are not far removed from the current paradigm of sustainable development, where poverty or inequality are problems that are not exclusive to developing countries [ 5 , 6 ]. Thus, emerging issues that mainly affect first world countries, including urban planning, the impact of activities such as hospitality, sport or tourism, or education for development, are starting to stand out with increasing intensity, which continues to open new avenues for future research.

In short, the results of the scientometric analysis have provided a systematized overview of the research conducted in relation to the SDGs since the approval of the 2030 Agenda. Among other things, the critical analysis has identified the main trends with respect to the number of publications, the most relevant journals, the most prolific authors, institutions and countries, and the collaborative networks between authors and the research areas at the epicentre of the debate on the SDGs. As Olawumi and Chan [ 105 ] already acknowledged, the power research networks applied to the study of the SDGs offer valuable insights and in-depth understandings not only of key scholars and institutions but also about the state of research fields, emerging trends and salient topics.

Consequently, the results of this work contribute to the systematic analysis of scientific research on the SDGs, which can be of great interest for decision-making at the governmental level (e.g., which research to fund and which not to fund), at the corporate level and at the level of research centres, both public and private. Furthermore, the scientometric analysis carried out may provide clues for academics regarding future lines of research and topics of interest where the debate on the SDGs is currently situated.

5. Conclusions, limitations and future research lines

As could not be otherwise, all research in the field of social sciences has a series of limitations that must be clearly and transparently explained. The two most relevant in this study are the following.

First, although the study of the SDGs is a recent object of research, the rate of publication is growing exponentially, such that scientific knowledge is renewed practically in its entirety every two years. The only articles that escape this scientometric obsolescence are those with a high number of citations (h-index). This circumstance generates a temporal limitation in terms of the conclusions obtained in the present investigation, conclusions that should be revised periodically until the growth of publications stabilizes by adopting a logistic form, as recommended by Sun and Lin [ 109 ].

Second, the articles used as the basis for this research were restricted to those published in the JCR-WoS. This decision was made for two main reasons. On the one hand, the limitation was to eliminate potential distortions that could occur as a result of the constant growth of journals that are incorporated annually into other databases, such as ESCI-WoS (Emerging Sources Citation Index). On the other hand, it is impossible to compare impact indices if integrating other databases such as Scopus.

We are aware of these limitations, which for developing a more selective analysis imply assuming the cost of less coverage in exchange.

Regarding future lines of research, the analysis highlights how the study of the SDGs is failing to balance their economic, social and sustainability components, as it still maintains an overall focus on environmental studies.

This suggests the urgency of increasing studies on social SDGs, key topics on the 2030 Agenda including equity (SDGs 4, 5 and 10), social development (SDGs 11 and 16) and governance (SDG 17). These topics are part of the public discourse and currently a source of social pressure in many latitudes, but they are still research areas that are necessary to deepen.

Economic sustainability studies are more present, but highly concentrated, in health economics, as previously acknowledged by Meschede [ 81 ]. Academic research on the SDGs against poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) has not achieved such a prominent place as health. Even less so, the economics of technological development (SDGs 8 and 9), which are recognized as crucial for economic development.

Finally, the environmental SDGs do not achieve a balance among themselves either. Academic research has prioritized action for climate (SDG 13) and industrial and human consumption, mainly water (SDG 6) and energy (SDG 7). New research should be developed in the area of land (SDG 15), life under the sea (SDG 14) and sustainable production (SDG 12).

Supporting information

S1 dataset..

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.s001

• View Article
• PubMed/NCBI
• Google Scholar
• 9. Nations United. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York, NY, USA: United Nations; 2015.

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals

Development studies articles from across Nature Portfolio

Quantifying the 15-minute city concept

Amid growing urbanization, the 15-minute city model seeks to transform city living by ensuring that essential services are just a short walk away from city inhabitants. New research now quantitatively measures this urban ideal, revealing significant disparities in access across cities globally.

• Haroldo V. Ribeiro

Latest Research and Reviews

Egalitarian preferences in young children depend on the genders of the interacting partners

Gender-related differences in resource distribution depend on both the gender of the Allocator and of the Recipient. Girls tried to reduce advantageous inequality more than boys but tolerated disadvantageous inequity more if it favoured another girl whereas boys were more competitive with other boys.

• Marijn van Wingerden
• Lina Oberließen
• Tobias Kalenscher

Towards a healthier future for the achievement of SDGs: unveiling the effects of agricultural financing, energy poverty, human capital, and corruption on malnutrition

• Cuicui Ding
• Khatib Ahmad Khan
• Shujaat Abbas

Balanced and imbalanced: global population spatial mobility and economic patterns in coastal and interior areas

• Xiaoming Jin
• Weixin Luan
• Chuang Tian

The middle-income trap and foreign direct investment: a mixed-methods approach centered on Mexico and South Korea

• Anthony William Donald Anastasi

Developing a suitability assessment model for Public Private Partnerships: a case in urban China

• Yongjian Ke

What drives intercity venture capital investment? A comparative analysis between multiple linear regression and random forest

News and Comment

The ‘Pact for the Future’

A new start for multilateralism is what UN Member States are focusing on, but achieving it won’t be easy and won’t be enough to deliver sustainable development. Addressing the multifaceted root causes of discrimination, inequalities and injustice across scales should be the priority.

Mind the gap between education policy and practice

An analysis in 50 countries shows large gaps between education policy and practice, which contributes to illiteracy among millions of students. Although much attention has been dedicated to policymaking, minimal attention is paid to policy implementation. To improve learning, we should pay as much attention to the latter as the former.

• Noam Angrist
• Stefan Dercon

Subsidy transition bonds as a funding mechanism for agroecological transformation

• Vijay Kumar Thallam

Addressing violence against women in cities

Violence against women is a widespread and growing issue in cities worldwide, but it is rarely considered in urban planning. To meet this challenge, Elizabeth L. Sweet encourages renewed considerations of time, space and relationships in urban scholarship and planning.

• Elizabeth L. Sweet

Famine in Gaza, questions for research and preventive action

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unprecedented in terms of the share of the population experiencing acute food insecurity and famine and the speed of the onset of the crisis. Research can help understand and anticipate the long-term impacts of the conflict on people and livelihoods, design more effective humanitarian support systems and identify options for creating resilient post-conflict livelihoods.

• Ismahane Elouafi
• Johan Swinnen

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

• Cette page n'est pas disponible en Français

Perspectives on Global Development 2021

• Development
• Global and regional development trends
• Human development and social inclusion
• Inclusion, equality and development

Cite this content as:

Since its first edition in 2010, the OECD Development Centre's Perspectives on Global Development report has tracked development trends and policy priorities in developing countries. This new report examines the phenomenon of discontent. Between the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, discontent surged around the world. It was especially evident in middle-income countries and was often most acute amongst the middle classes that have emerged in developing countries over recent decades. The report explores the economic, political and sociological drivers of discontent and argues that building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries will require approaches that simultaneously improve citizens' well-being, promote productive transformation and strengthen social cohesion. The report concludes by examining the international dimension of discontent and demonstrates how weaknesses and imbalances in the present multilateral system are eroding humankind's capacity for collective action in the face of global threats, notably the climate crisis. The rise in discontent has exposed failings in prevailing economic, social and political models at all levels: addressing discontent means fixing these systems, and doing so in an inclusive and sustainable manner.

In the same series

Related publications

• Research & Outlook

World Bank Policy Research Working Papers

The World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series encourages the exchange of ideas on development and quickly disseminates the findings of research in progress. This series is aimed at showcasing World Bank research—analytic work designed to produce results with wide applicability across countries or sectors. The authors are exclusively World Bank staff and consultants.

Recent Papers by theme

• Infrastructure

Search the Entire Series

You can search the series by author, country, region, title, topic...etc.

Series Hubs

INSIDE THIS SERIES

⇰ Working Papers with Reproducibility Packages

⇰ Working Papers on COVID-19

⇰ Working Papers on Impact Evaluation

⇰ Working Papers funded by KCP

• Development Economics Department

Programs submenu

Regions submenu, topics submenu, the global impact of the 2024 u.s. presidential election, powering tomorrow: innovations at the intersection of ai and energy, poni 2024 fall conference, army uas roundtable featuring asa(alt) hon. douglas r. bush and commanding gen. james e. rainey, u.s. army futures command.

• Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy
• Aerospace Security Project
• Africa Program
• Americas Program
• Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy
• Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
• Asia Program
• Australia Chair
• Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy
• Brzezinski Institute on Geostrategy
• Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies
• China Power Project
• Chinese Business and Economics
• Defending Democratic Institutions
• Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group
• Defense 360
• Defense Budget Analysis
• Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project
• Economics Program
• Emeritus Chair in Strategy
• Energy Security and Climate Change Program
• Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
• Freeman Chair in China Studies
• Futures Lab
• Geoeconomic Council of Advisers
• Global Food and Water Security Program
• Global Health Policy Center
• Hess Center for New Frontiers
• Human Rights Initiative
• Humanitarian Agenda
• Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
• International Security Program
• Japan Chair
• Kissinger Chair
• Korea Chair
• Langone Chair in American Leadership
• Middle East Program
• Missile Defense Project
• Project on Critical Minerals Security
• Project on Fragility and Mobility
• Project on Nuclear Issues
• Project on Prosperity and Development
• Project on Trade and Technology
• Renewing American Innovation
• Scholl Chair in International Business
• Smart Women, Smart Power
• Southeast Asia Program
• Stephenson Ocean Security Project
• Strategic Technologies Program
• Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative
• Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies
• Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program
• All Regions
• Australia, New Zealand & Pacific
• Middle East
• Russia and Eurasia

American Innovation

Civic education, climate change, cybersecurity, defense budget and acquisition, defense and security, energy and sustainability, food security, gender and international security, geopolitics, global health, human rights, humanitarian assistance, intelligence, international development, maritime issues and oceans, missile defense, nuclear issues, transnational threats, water security.

The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) examines research topics surrounding global studies, international relations, & foreign policy issues.

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

101 Global Issues Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Global issues are a complex and multifaceted part of our world today. From climate change to poverty, these issues affect people all over the world and require collaborative efforts to address. If you are looking for essay topics on global issues, here are 101 ideas to get you started:

• The impact of climate change on global food security
• The role of the United Nations in addressing global conflicts
• The effects of globalization on developing countries
• The rise of nationalism and its implications for global cooperation
• The ethical implications of genetic engineering
• The challenges of providing clean water to all people
• The impact of social media on global communication
• The role of women in peacebuilding efforts
• The effects of deforestation on biodiversity
• The importance of universal healthcare
• The consequences of income inequality
• The role of technology in addressing global challenges
• The impact of migration on global economies
• The ethics of drone warfare
• The effects of nuclear proliferation
• The challenges of combating infectious diseases
• The role of education in promoting global citizenship
• The consequences of overfishing
• The impact of artificial intelligence on the job market
• The ethics of animal testing
• The effects of urbanization on the environment
• The importance of renewable energy sources
• The challenges of providing education to all children
• The implications of cyber warfare
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion
• The consequences of mass incarceration
• The impact of terrorism on global security
• The ethics of humanitarian intervention
• The effects of child labor on global economies
• The challenges of combating human trafficking
• The role of religion in global conflicts
• The consequences of water scarcity
• The importance of protecting indigenous rights
• The ethics of animal conservation
• The effects of plastic pollution on marine life
• The implications of artificial intelligence on privacy
• The challenges of addressing climate refugees
• The role of diplomacy in resolving international disputes
• The consequences of deforestation on indigenous communities
• The impact of social media on mental health
• The ethics of genetic modification
• The effects of air pollution on public health
• The importance of promoting gender equality
• The challenges of combating drug trafficking
• The implications of autonomous weapons
• The role of international organizations in promoting peace
• The consequences of human rights violations
• The impact of corruption on global economies
• The ethics of animal rights
• The effects of population growth on natural resources
• The challenges of providing healthcare in conflict zones
• The role of the private sector in addressing global challenges
• The consequences of climate change on indigenous cultures
• The importance of preserving cultural heritage
• The ethics of bioengineering
• The effects of soil degradation on agriculture
• The implications of mass surveillance
• The challenges of promoting sustainable tourism
• The role of education in preventing extremism
• The consequences of food insecurity
• The impact of armed conflict on civilian populations
• The ethics of genetic privacy
• The effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems
• The importance of promoting religious tolerance
• The challenges of combating cybercrime
• The implications of mass migration
• The role of international aid in promoting development
• The consequences of wildlife trafficking
• The impact of income inequality on social cohesion
• The ethics of human enhancement
• The effects of urban sprawl on natural habitats
• The importance of promoting intercultural dialogue
• The challenges of addressing mental health stigma
• The implications of water privatization
• The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing global challenges
• The consequences of gender-based violence
• The impact of climate change on indigenous knowledge
• The ethics of biohacking
• The effects of land degradation on food security
• The importance of protecting cultural diversity
• The challenges of combating cyberbullying
• The implications of mass incarceration on communities of color
• The role of education in promoting social justice
• The consequences of wildlife habitat loss
• The impact of human trafficking on vulnerable populations
• The ethics of environmental conservation
• The effects of electronic waste on developing countries
• The importance of promoting mental health awareness
• The challenges of addressing refugee integration
• The implications of artificial intelligence on democracy
• The role of international law in promoting human rights
• The consequences of water pollution on public health
• The impact of climate change on cultural heritage
• The ethics of biofuels
• The effects of deforestation on indigenous rights 96

Want to research companies faster?

Instantly access industry insights

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Leverage powerful AI research capabilities

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2024 Pitchgrade

8 Global Issue Topics for Essays and Research Papers

10 Global Issue Topics for Essays and Research

• Water Contamination and Shortage:  2.1 billion people in countries undergoing urbanization have inaccessibility to clean drinking water as a result of pollution, poverty and poor management of resources. Water resources are depleted by agriculture and industry energy production. To put into perspective, agriculture accounts for 70 percent of the reduction of water around the world, with 75 percent of a given countries’ water used for this purpose and depleted by contamination. Fortunately, there has been a recent increase in efforts to develop technology to combat contamination and reduce the rate of water depletion.
• The Relationship between Education and Child Labor:  Despite a surge in funding for some countries and increasing attention through social media, education continues to be a luxury around the globe. Reasons include gender preferences and poverty, and child labor — the use of children in industry. According to UNICEF, 150 million children participate in laborious activities dangerous to their health. As one can imagine, this work hinders a child’s ability to fully invest in education. Therefore it’s most challenging to bring education to sub-Saharan Africa, where the rates of children enrolled in primary education continue to stagger. In addition, fewer students successfully complete secondary education here.
• Violence:  Violence is a global issue that exists in all shapes and sizes. Violence can be done towards a particular group like women or LGBTQ+ members, or it is an act that can be a result of a mentally disturbed mind. There is also violence in response to economic stress. All these varying forms of violence lead to attention on the safety and prevention of such acts. However, there isn’t much consideration on how an everyday person can help. In discussions about violence, the biggest questions to answer are: How is this violence used? How is it achieved/accessed? Does the media have a role? How much is the foundation for a particular act of violence is personal? What is the overall goal?
• Poverty:  In 2015, the International Poverty Line was set to $1.90. This number means that a person is living in extreme poverty if they live below this line. According to this set line, more than 1.3 billion people are living in this extreme worldwide. This fact suggests that 1.3 billion people have difficulty obtaining food and shelter, regardless of the availability of homeless shelters and organizations . Current questions or topics to explore in an essay or research would be the cause of variation in wages on the international level, and the nature and initiatives that can be taken to solve this global issue at large.
• Inequality:  On a global scale, the focus on inequality tends to be in terms of the distribution of wealth. According to a Global Wealth Report, 44 percent of global net worth is held by only 0.7 percent of adults. This suggests that there is a significant division between economic classes around the world. Recently, research has shown the effects that this economic divide has on communities particularly in health, social relationships, development and stability . For example, in a society where there’s a large gap between the rich and the poor, life expectancy tends to be shorter and mental illness and obesity rates are 2 to 4 times higher. In terms of social relationships, inequality on a larger level introduces more violence and crime.
• Terrorism:  Terrorism like the bombing incidents of the last few years continue to claim the lives of innocents. It is a threat to the peace, security and stability of the world, so terrorism prevention methods have been implemented to illustrate what is wrong and should be/could be done to uphold justice . However, the basis of the threats, mindsets and the successes/failures of response efforts still need to be evaluated.
• Child Marriages:  Child marriages are defined as the union between one or two individuals under the age of 18. One in five girls are married before the age of 18, and child marriages prevent children from becoming educated, can lead to severe health consequences and increased risk of violence. Legislation and programs were established in order to educate and employ children in these situations as child marriages do not have enough awareness on individual involvement or emphasis on the common causes for these marriages.
• Food:  Poverty, economic inequality and water contamination mean inability to produce sufficient amounts of food to sustain a population. This can, in turn, lead to poorer health and decreased energy to carry out physical and mental functions, leading to more poverty. By 2050, the world would need to find food for approximately nine billion people as cost of production for food will rise in response to the increased amount of individuals. Thus, the United Nations established programs to ensure food security and technology companies make efforts to reduce food production costs.

The Role of Essays and Research

There has been increasing progress towards solving the global issues; however, for some, this progress is too slow due to lack of understanding of preventative methods, diffusion of responsibility and unanswered questions. These global issue topics for essays and research papers can be used as a starting point to give more insight to others into the issues and how to get involved.

– Stephanie Singh Photo: Flickr

“The Borgen Project is an incredible nonprofit organization that is addressing poverty and hunger and working towards ending them.”

-The Huffington Post

Inside the borgen project.

• Board of Directors

International Links

• UK Email Parliament
• UK Gaza Ceasefire
• Canada Email Parliament
• Canada Gaza Ceasefire

Get Smarter

• Global Poverty 101
• Global Poverty… The Good News
• Global Poverty & U.S. Jobs
• Global Poverty and National Security
• Innovative Solutions to Poverty
• Global Poverty & Aid FAQ’s

Ways to Help

• Call Congress
• Email Congress
• 30 Ways to Help
• Volunteer Ops
• Internships
• Courses & Certificates
• The Podcast

International Economics Research Paper Topics

This page explores a diverse array of international economics research paper topics , providing students with a comprehensive list of ideas for their research projects. From trade policies to exchange rates, economic development to international financial systems, this page covers a wide range of key topics in international economics. Additionally, expert advice is offered to guide students in selecting the most suitable research topic, and essential tips are provided to assist in the process of writing an international economics research paper. To further support students, iResearchNet offers custom writing services, allowing them to order a tailored economics research paper with the assurance of top quality, expert writers, and timely delivery. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your understanding of global economic dynamics through engaging and well-crafted international economics research papers.

100 International Economics Research Paper Topics

To assist students in their quest to find compelling research paper topics in the field of international economics, we have curated a comprehensive list of diverse and engaging topics. These topics cover various aspects of international economics, providing students with a wide range of options to explore and delve into. The following categories present a collection of research topics that are both relevant and thought-provoking:

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Get 10% off with 24start discount code.

International Trade and Policies Research Paper Topics

• The Impact of Tariffs and Trade Barriers on International Trade
• Regional Trade Agreements and their Economic Effects
• Trade Liberalization and Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis
• The Role of International Organizations in Shaping Global Trade Policies
• Trade Imbalances: Causes, Consequences, and Potential Solutions
• Global Value Chains: Trends and Implications for International Trade
• Bilateral vs. Multilateral Trade Agreements: Comparative Analysis
• Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade
• Trade in Services: Opportunities and Challenges for Global Economies
• Trade Disputes and Resolving International Trade Conflicts

Exchange Rates and Currency Markets Research Paper Topics

• Determinants of Exchange Rates: A Comparative Analysis
• Exchange Rate Regimes: Pros and Cons
• Exchange Rate Volatility and its Impact on International Trade
• Currency Manipulation: Implications for Global Financial Stability
• Optimal Currency Areas: Theory and Practice
• The Role of Central Banks in Managing Exchange Rates
• Exchange Rate Pass-Through: Effects on Domestic Prices and Inflation
• Currency Crises and Financial Contagion
• Foreign Exchange Market Efficiency: An Empirical Study
• Exchange Rate Forecasting Models: Evaluation and Comparison

Global Financial Systems Research Paper Topics

• Financial Globalization: Opportunities and Risks
• Cross-Border Capital Flows: Implications for Emerging Economies
• International Banking and Financial Intermediation
• Financial Regulations and their Impact on Global Markets
• Sovereign Debt Crisis: Causes, Contagion, and Resolution
• Financial Innovations and their Effects on Global Financial Systems
• Financial Stability and Systemic Risk in a Globalized Economy
• International Capital Markets: Trends and Challenges
• Foreign Direct Investment and its Economic Implications
• Financial Inclusion and Economic Development in Emerging Markets

Economic Development and Globalization Research Paper Topics

• Foreign Aid and its Role in Economic Development
• Sustainable Development Goals and Global Economic Progress
• The Role of Multinational Corporations in Economic Development
• Human Capital Development and Economic Growth
• Globalization and Income Inequality: Patterns and Policy Implications
• Technology Transfer and Economic Development
• The Role of Institutions in Promoting Economic Development
• Infrastructure Investment and Economic Development
• Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment in Developing Countries
• Migration and its Impact on Economic Development

International Financial Crises Research Paper Topics

• Causes and Consequences of the Global Financial Crisis
• Financial Contagion: Spillover Effects of Financial Crises
• International Financial Institutions and Crisis Management
• The Role of Government Policies in Preventing and Managing Financial Crises
• Currency Crises: Lessons from Historical Events
• Banking Sector Stability and Crisis Resilience
• Financial Risk Management in a Globalized Economy
• Systemic Risk and Macroprudential Policies
• Early Warning Systems for Financial Crises
• Crisis Recovery and Post-Crisis Reforms: Comparative Analysis

Global Economic Governance Research Paper Topics

• The Role of G7, G20, and International Monetary Fund in Global Economic Governance
• International Economic Law and its Implications for Global Trade
• Global Economic Governance and Sustainable Development
• Regional Economic Integration and its Impact on Global Governance
• International Taxation: Challenges and Policy Implications
• Intellectual Property Rights Protection in Global Trade
• Climate Change and Global Economic Governance
• Labor Standards and Social Responsibility in International Trade
• Digital Economy and its Implications for Global Governance
• Cross-Border Data Flows: Privacy and Security Concerns

Economic Policies and Macroeconomic Management Research Paper Topics

• Fiscal Policy and its Impact on Economic Growth
• Monetary Policy Strategies in a Globalized Economy
• Exchange Rate Policy and Macroeconomic Stability
• Inflation Targeting: Theory and Practice
• Public Debt Management in the Face of Global Economic Challenges
• Financial Regulation and Macroeconomic Stability
• Unemployment Policies: Comparative Analysis and Best Practices
• Economic Integration and Policy Coordination among Nations
• Structural Reforms for Sustainable Economic Development
• Income Distribution Policies in a Global Economy

Trade and Environment Research Paper Topics

• Environmental Policies and International Trade: Conflict or Compatibility?
• Carbon Pricing and its Economic Implications for Global Trade
• Sustainable Development and International Trade
• Trade and Deforestation: Challenges and Solutions
• Green Technologies and their Role in Global Trade
• Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights and Environmental Conservation
• Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and International Trade
• Eco-labeling and Consumer Preferences in Global Markets
• Circular Economy and its Effects on International Trade
• Trade and Water Scarcity: Nexus and Policy Responses

International Labor Markets and Migration Research Paper Topics

• Labor Mobility and Economic Integration: Implications for Global Labor Markets
• International Trade and Labor Market Outcomes
• Migration Policies and their Economic Impact
• Remittances and Economic Development in Sending Countries
• Brain Drain and Brain Gain: The Economic Effects of High-Skilled Migration
• Labor Market Flexibility and Global Competitiveness
• Gender Wage Gap in International Labor Markets
• Skilled vs. Unskilled Immigration: Economic Consequences
• Labor Market Regulations and Employment Dynamics in Global Economies
• Migration and Social Integration: Challenges and Policy Approaches

Global Economic Challenges and Future Trends Research Paper Topics

• Technological Innovations and their Effects on Global Economies
• Global Economic Inequality: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Solutions
• Aging Populations and the Economic Implications for Nations
• Digital Disruption and the Transformation of Industries
• Blockchain Technology and its Potential Applications in Global Business
• Trade Wars and their Impact on International Trade
• Economic Resilience and Crisis Preparedness in a Globalized World
• Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Labor Markets and Productivity
• Economic Implications of Pandemics and Health Crises
• Economic Forecasting and Predictive Analytics in a Global Context

This list provides an extensive array of research topics in international economics. Students are encouraged to explore these categories and select a topic that aligns with their interests, research capabilities, and the availability of relevant data and resources.

International Economics Research Paper Writing Guide

Economics is a fascinating field that encompasses a wide range of topics, and one of the key areas within economics is international economics. As countries become increasingly interconnected, the study of international economics becomes vital in understanding the complexities of global markets, trade relations, and economic policies. For students pursuing a degree in economics, writing a research paper on international economics offers an opportunity to delve deeper into these intricacies and contribute to the field’s knowledge base.

This page serves as a valuable resource for students who are tasked with writing an international economics research paper. It provides a wealth of information, including a comprehensive list of international economics research paper topics, expert advice on selecting a suitable topic, and guidance on the research and writing process. Furthermore, students can take advantage of the custom writing services offered by iResearchNet to order a tailored economics research paper that meets their unique requirements.

Whether you are interested in exploring international trade, exchange rates, economic policies, or global financial systems, this page will assist you in finding an engaging and relevant research topic. Through careful examination and analysis of these topics, students can contribute to the understanding of international economics and its implications on global economic development.

Prepare to embark on a rewarding journey of research and exploration as we delve into the realm of international economics research paper topics. Discover the intriguing dynamics of the global economy and equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to make a significant contribution in this ever-evolving field.

Choosing International Economics Research Paper Topics

Choosing a compelling and relevant research paper topic in the field of international economics is a crucial step towards producing a high-quality and impactful paper. With the multitude of available topics, it can be challenging to narrow down your focus and select a topic that is both engaging and manageable. To help you navigate this process, we offer the following expert advice on choosing international economics research paper topics:

• Identify your Interests : Start by reflecting on your personal interests within the field of international economics. Consider topics that resonate with you and align with your career goals. Engaging with a topic you are passionate about will not only make the research process more enjoyable but also enhance the quality of your work.
• Stay Updated with Current Events : Keep abreast of current global economic issues and trends. Read reputable news sources, academic journals, and policy reports to identify emerging topics or areas of debate in international economics. Analyzing and addressing these contemporary issues will add relevance and significance to your research.
• Explore Controversial Topics : Consider researching topics that have varying viewpoints or controversial aspects. These topics often spark interesting discussions and allow you to critically analyze different perspectives. However, ensure that you approach controversial topics with objectivity and rigor, presenting a balanced view in your research.
• Consult with Professors or Experts : Seek guidance from your professors or experts in the field of international economics. They can provide valuable insights, suggest research areas, or share their expertise on specific topics. Their input can help you refine your research question and provide direction for your study.
• Review Existing Literature : Conduct a thorough review of existing literature in international economics. Identify gaps or areas where further research is needed. Building upon existing knowledge or exploring new dimensions of a topic can contribute to the advancement of the field and make your research more impactful.
• Consider Data Availability : Assess the availability of relevant data for your chosen topic. Data plays a crucial role in empirical research, and access to reliable and comprehensive data sets will strengthen the empirical analysis in your paper. Ensure that you have access to suitable data sources before finalizing your research topic.
• Balance Breadth and Depth : Strive to strike a balance between the breadth and depth of your research topic. While a broad topic can provide a comprehensive overview, a narrow focus allows for a more in-depth analysis. Consider the scope of your research project, the available resources, and the time constraints when selecting the level of breadth or depth for your topic.
• Collaborate and Discuss : Engage in discussions with your peers, classmates, or fellow researchers. Brainstorming and exchanging ideas can stimulate new perspectives and inspire unique research topics. Collaborative efforts can also lead to joint research projects, enabling you to explore complex topics or conduct cross-country studies.
• Consider Policy Relevance : Evaluate the policy relevance of your chosen topic. International economics research often addresses real-world economic issues and informs policy decisions. Selecting a topic with policy implications can make your research more impactful and applicable in the context of economic development and global governance.
• Seek Feedback : Once you have narrowed down your research topic, seek feedback from your professors, peers, or research advisors. Their insights can help you refine your research question, provide additional suggestions, or highlight potential challenges in your chosen topic.

By following these expert tips, you can select a compelling and relevant research topic in international economics that aligns with your interests, contributes to the field, and enables you to produce a high-quality research paper. Remember to approach your chosen topic with curiosity, rigor, and a commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of international economics.

How to Write an International Economics Research Paper

Writing a research paper in the field of international economics requires careful planning, rigorous analysis, and effective communication of your findings. To help you navigate the process, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to write an international economics research paper:

• Understand the Assignment : Familiarize yourself with the assignment guidelines provided by your instructor. Clarify the research question, required format, citation style, and any specific requirements or expectations for your paper.
• Conduct Preliminary Research : Begin by conducting preliminary research on your chosen topic. Review relevant academic literature, empirical studies, and policy reports to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic and identify key research gaps or areas for further investigation.
• Develop a Clear Research Question : Formulate a clear and concise research question that defines the scope of your study. Ensure that your research question is specific, measurable, and aligned with the objectives of your research.
• Create an Outline : Develop an outline that organizes your paper and outlines the structure of your research. A typical research paper structure includes an introduction, literature review, research methodology, data analysis, findings, discussion, and conclusion.
• Conduct In-Depth Literature Review : Conduct a comprehensive literature review to identify the existing knowledge and research on your topic. Analyze and synthesize the findings from previous studies, highlighting the key theories, models, and empirical evidence that are relevant to your research question.
• Choose a Suitable Research Methodology : Select an appropriate research methodology that aligns with your research question and data availability. Common research methodologies in international economics include quantitative analysis, econometric modeling, case studies, or qualitative approaches. Justify your chosen methodology and explain how it will address your research question.
• Gather and Analyze Data : Collect relevant data to support your research findings. Ensure that your data collection methods are appropriate and reliable. Conduct rigorous data analysis using appropriate statistical techniques or qualitative methods, depending on the nature of your research.
• Interpret and Present Findings : Interpret your research findings and present them in a clear and organized manner. Use tables, charts, or graphs to visually represent your data. Provide a detailed analysis and explanation of your findings, relating them back to your research question and existing literature.
• Engage in Critical Discussion : Engage in a critical discussion of your findings by analyzing their implications, limitations, and significance. Discuss any discrepancies or unexpected results and provide possible explanations. Compare your findings with previous research and highlight their contributions to the field of international economics.
• Write a Coherent Conclusion : Summarize your research findings and main arguments in a concise and coherent conclusion. Restate your research question and objectives, and discuss the implications of your findings. Suggest avenues for future research and areas where further investigation is needed.
• Revise and Edit : Proofread your research paper carefully to ensure clarity, coherence, and proper grammar. Check for consistency in formatting, citations, and references. Revise and edit your paper multiple times to improve its overall quality and coherence.
• Seek Feedback : Share your research paper with peers, professors, or research advisors to gather feedback and suggestions for improvement. Incorporate constructive feedback into your paper to strengthen your arguments and enhance its overall quality.

By following these steps, you can effectively plan, conduct, and present your research in the field of international economics. Remember to maintain a rigorous and objective approach throughout your research process and communicate your findings in a clear and concise manner. Good luck with your international economics research paper!

Custom Writing Services

If you are looking for assistance with your economics research paper, our writing services are here to help. At iResearchNet, we offer custom economics research paper writing services to students like you who want to ensure a high-quality and well-crafted paper. Here’s how our services can benefit you:

• Expert Degree-Holding Writers : We have a team of experienced and knowledgeable writers who hold advanced degrees in economics. They have expertise in various subfields of economics, including international economics, econometrics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, and more. Our writers are skilled in conducting in-depth research, analyzing data, and producing well-structured and well-referenced research papers.
• Custom Written Works : When you order a research paper from us, you can be confident that it will be custom-written to meet your specific requirements. We follow your instructions and adhere to the highest academic standards to deliver a paper that is tailored to your needs.
• In-Depth Research : Our writers are adept at conducting comprehensive research on your chosen topic. They have access to reputable academic databases, scholarly journals, and reliable sources of economic data. They ensure that your research paper is grounded in solid theoretical frameworks and supported by relevant empirical evidence.
• Custom Formatting : We understand the importance of adhering to specific formatting styles in academic writing. Whether you require APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, or any other formatting style, our writers will ensure that your research paper is formatted correctly and consistently throughout.
• Top Quality : We are committed to delivering research papers of the highest quality. Our writers meticulously review and edit their work to ensure clarity, coherence, and logical flow of ideas. They pay attention to detail, address all the requirements, and provide a well-structured and engaging paper.
• Timely Delivery : We understand the importance of meeting deadlines. When you place an order with us, we ensure that your research paper is delivered within the specified timeframe. Our writers work efficiently to complete the paper and allow sufficient time for revisions if needed.
• Confidentiality and Privacy : We prioritize the confidentiality and privacy of our clients. Your personal information and order details are kept strictly confidential. We use secure systems and protocols to protect your data and ensure that it remains secure.
• 24/7 Support : Our customer support team is available round the clock to assist you with any queries or concerns you may have. Whether you need assistance with placing an order, communicating with your writer, or tracking the progress of your research paper, our support team is here to help.
• Easy Order Tracking : We provide a user-friendly platform that allows you to easily track the progress of your order. You can communicate directly with your assigned writer, provide additional instructions or clarifications, and monitor the status of your paper.
• Money Back Guarantee : We are confident in the quality of our work. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with the final research paper, we offer a money-back guarantee. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we strive to ensure that you receive a paper that meets your expectations.
• Free Revisions : We understand that you may have specific requirements or preferences for your research paper. If you feel that any revisions or adjustments are necessary, we offer free revisions to ensure that the final paper meets your expectations. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are committed to delivering a research paper that fulfills your requirements.
• Easy Ordering Process : Our ordering process is designed to be simple and user-friendly. Just provide us with the details of your research paper, including the topic, length, deadline, and any specific instructions or requirements. Once you submit your order, our team will review it and assign a suitable writer with expertise in your area of study. You can then communicate directly with your writer to discuss any additional details or clarifications.

Ordering a custom economics research paper from iResearchNet is a convenient and reliable way to obtain a well-researched and professionally written paper. Our team of expert writers is dedicated to helping you achieve academic success. Place your order today and experience the benefits of our custom writing services.

Take the Next Step Today!

Are you ready to take the stress out of writing your economics research paper? Look no further than iResearchNet. Our custom writing services are here to provide you with top-quality research papers tailored to your specific needs.

Take the first step towards a successful research paper by placing an order with iResearchNet. Simply visit our website, fill out the order form, and provide us with the details of your research paper. Our team will handle the rest, ensuring that you receive a high-quality, custom-written research paper that meets your requirements.

Don’t let the pressure of writing an economics research paper weigh you down. Trust our reliable and professional writing services to deliver the results you need. Place your order today and experience the difference iResearchNet can make in your academic journey.

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

Featured Topics

View the  Entrepreneurship Working Group  page.

Econometrics

Microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, financial economics, public economics, health, education, and welfare, labor economics, industrial organization, development and growth, environmental and resource economics, regional and urban economics, more from nber.

In addition to working papers , the NBER disseminates affiliates’ latest findings through a range of free periodicals — the NBER Reporter , the NBER Digest , the Bulletin on Retirement and Disability , the Bulletin on Health , and the Bulletin on Entrepreneurship  — as well as online conference reports , video lectures , and interviews .

• Feldstein Lecture
• Presenter: Cecilia E. Rouse

• Methods Lectures
• Presenter: Susan Athey

• Panel Discussion
• Presenters: Karen Dynan , Karen Glenn, Stephen Goss, Fatih Guvenen & James Pearce

How can AI and data drive global development? Insights from MeasureDev 2024

Maria jones, chiara casanova, sean luna mcadams, luiza cardoso de andrade.

Measuring Development is the World Bank’s Development Impact Group flagship annual conference with a decade-long history of featuring cutting-edge research in measurement and its application to urgent public policy challenges. Organized in partnership with UC Berkeley’s Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), the World Bank's Development Data Group (DECDG), and University of Chicago’s Center for the Economics of Innovation and Development (CEID), MeasureDev brings together researchers, policymakers, and decision-makers to accelerate the practical implementation of innovative insights. Notable keynote speakers include Susan Athey of Stanford, Josh Blumenstock from UC Berkeley, and David McKenzie of the World Bank , and many more. At a moment when generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) innovations are commanding widespread public attention and caution, the tenth annual MeasureDev conference, “AI, The Next Generation,” explored the transformational potential of new generation AI data and tools in global development. It is reported that GenAI could contribute between $2.6 and $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy. Given its rapid evolution and growing influence, it is necessary to ensure that the innovations that come with it best serve the interests and needs of our communities beyond economic gain. Dan Björkegren , keynote speaker at the conference and Head of the AI and Development initiative at Columbia University’s Center for Development Economics and Policy (CDEP), stressed: “Algorithms necessarily encode values… if you think about an AI assistant that might recommend medical procedures, which procedures should be recommended? There’s a lot of values in determining those.” As we increasingly integrate algorithms into our society, especially in areas like healthcare, it's crucial to define these embedded values. Establishing ethical guidelines and investing in inclusive, representative data today is essential to ensure that AI serves society’s broader goals. MeasureDev 2024 focused on efforts to improve and expand responsible data infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), facilitate the development of a new generation of ethical AI tools, and optimize generative AI (GenAI) tools like LLMs (Large Language Model) for social impact.   

Related blogs

• Beyond keywords: AI-driven approaches to improve data discoverability
• Monitoring food prices in fragile contexts: Can AI and crowdsourcing of data bridge data gaps?
• The transformative role of AI for development data

Representation and representativeness

Aligning AI with human well-being not only enhances its potential as a technological innovation, but poises it as a pivotal tool to address inequality. Uyi Stewart, keynote speaker and Chief Data and Technology Officer at data.org, added that “[Algorithms] encode culture. They encode beliefs. They encode worldviews.” For LMICs to effectively adopt AI to address global challenges, AI development must expand outside the United States and China, proactively include women and LMIC citizens, and open the sourcing of models to allow the research community to scrutinize and build on existing work. Stewart further highlighted that local talent is best placed to manage local data and language complexities. For example, researchers Dunstan Matekenya from the World Bank and Daniel Nkemelu from the Georgia Institute of Technology presented examples of this in their ongoing work to improve the semantic representation of lower-resourced languages in Malawi and Myanmar. Obstacles extend beyond who does the analysis to what they analyze. English and Mandarin currently dominate generative AI, excluding 99.99% of the world’s languages and the many people who speak neither. Charles Mberi from the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences highlighted this issue: “If you look at only two languages, you’re excluding five billion people. My grandmother and my grandfather would never be in your datasets.” This data gap biases AI models, limiting their effectiveness and preventing underrepresented communities from benefiting from AI. Addressing this requires a comprehensive and continuous diagnosis. Carina Ines Hausladen from ETH Zurich provided a good example with her study on a vision-language model’s bias in its social judgments. With a truly global community and integrating diverse data, particularly from LMICs, GenAI can safeguard against biases, and we can build transformative and more equitable systems.

What does AI mean for the developing world? On this episode of the #DevelopmentPodcast , we explore how AI is being used globally at a grassroots level in India and Papua New Guinea and get the big picture. 🎙️ Listen now: https://t.co/BQ2oktBE4p pic.twitter.com/CmrwijOat4 — World Bank (@WorldBank) September 21, 2024

Harnessing AI in social science

Since the late 1980s, fields like biology have used computer simulations (in silico) to complement experiments. With proper foundations, AI could evolve to simulate complex social systems through accurate predictive analytics. This in silico social science could improve our ability to estimate counterfactuals, reduce experimentation costs, and better assess development impacts. Benjamin Manning from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Sloan cautioned the research community to address their assumptions when using these models: “[As far as] the actual features we need to specify when querying them for information and having them ‘pretend’ to be people, these are open questions… there is no overarching framework.” Sayash Kapoor from Princeton University further points out that these predictive systems must meet some threshold of external validity, which he states they currently struggle to do. Social scientists and decision-makers must develop transparent and reproducible approaches to guide how to assess how useful insights from digital simulations are for real-world decisions.  As we build this evidence base, GenAI models are proving to be powerful tools for synthesizing, structuring, and interpolating data. In their talks, Vivek Sakhrani from AtlasAI and Hamed Alemohammad from Clark University highlighted how GenAI models are addressing earth image challenges like cloud cover and low-resolution inputs. Karim Lasri from the World Bank and Jahnavi Meher from IDinsight discussed tools in development that partially automate the tasks of aggregating evidence and querying data to further democratize their use. These efforts could transform research into resource-limited settings, but achieving their full potential requires investment in LMIC scholars and public-minded institutions to ensure access to data, tools, computing resources, and skills.

GenAI-augmented social services

Deep learning frameworks unlocked the capability of digital data holders to create highly personalized and adaptive products. GenAI promises to further this by making these highly personalized interventions personable . Several presentations at MeasureDev exemplified this potential, including a personal advisor for small business owners in Kenya , a postnatal health expert and confidant for new parents in Peru, and a survey instrument expert for data collection teams . GenAI can amplify engagement with insights people can harness to realize their ambitions and build the life they want. As Arianna Legovini, Director of the Development Impact Group at the World Bank, remarked on our panel, AI tools stand to improve the time and cost of public service delivery, creating shorter pathways to results. However, development practitioners need more research on who will benefit from AI tools and their implications for inequality. We must be vigilant and not assume that GenAI-augmented products will benefit everyone equally . For other applications, GenAI may fail to outperform the cost-effectiveness of existing approaches . Yet in other contexts, users’ behavior may produce worse outcomes when given access to a GenAI-powered tool. Understanding why we observe this variation will allow the development sector to use this technology effectively. Here we could learn from the tech industry’s user experience (UX) professional community, which leverages qualitative approaches like focus groups and agile prototyping coupled with evaluation to generate impactful innovations. GenAI is here to stay. Its arrival has been sudden, and its effects will persist for years to come as it percolates to new frontiers. The task at hand now is to mitigate its harms and put it in the service of community well-being. Like other general-purpose technologies, AI can be used to build or destroy. We are duty-bound to recruit fellow builders.  

Videos of all the talks at the conference are available on the conference website.

*This article is adapted from an earlier version written by Sean Luna McAdams which you can access  here . They have been credited as co-author for their contributions.

Get updates from Data Blog

Thank you for choosing to be part of the Data Blog community!

Your subscription is now active. The latest blog posts and blog-related announcements will be delivered directly to your email inbox. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Survey Specialist, Development Research Group (DIME), World Bank

Knowledge Management and Communications Specialist, Development Impact Group, World Bank

Program Manager, Data Science for Development (DS4D) Program, CEGA

Data Analytics Lead, DIL

Join the Conversation

• Share on mail
• comments added

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Publication Library

Global Innovation, Research and Development (IRD) Strategy: FY23-FY27

This plan outlines a five-year vision of international growth that supports DHS across its mission areas, providing high-level direction for S&T to enhance its existing bilateral and multilateral partnerships, expand global innovation and R&D cooperation networks, and increase the impact of international cooperation amongst DHS Components and stakeholders.

• Science and Technology
• International Partnership

Boatwright Memorial Library

• IS Course Guide Archive
• International News
• Country Information
• International Topics
• Int'l Organizations
• International Travel

Attitudes & Public Opinion

• World Public Opinion.org Covers public opinion by region of the world and by topic.
• Pew Research International Affairs Provides access to world-wide public opinion polls regarding important issues of the day.
• World Values Survey Contains sets of surveys of people throughout the world capturing their beliefs and values.
• Afrobarometer Provides reports and datasets of public opinion surveys of various African countries.
• AmericasBarometer Insights Series - LAPOP Studies based on surveys in 23 countries of the Americas in 2008, including North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
• Asian Barometer Access to public opinion surveys of people from Southeast Asian countries. more... less... Access the datasets requires submitting contact information and having the data sent to you through email.
• Eurobarometer Provides reports of attitudes of European Union member countries' citizens.
• Post-communist Countries Barometer Provides public opinion polls for Russia, Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and Baltic Countries from the 1990s forward.

Economics/Trade

Food & Hunger

• World Food Programme UN organization focusing on distributing food to those in need during times of natural disasters and conflict.
• Food & Agriculture Organization Provides information on eradicating hunger as well as agriculture, forestry & fishery development activities throughout the world.

Conflict/War

• Small Arms Survey Principal international source of public information on small arms and light weapons, including weapon use and government policies.
• Correlates of War Provides datasets from researchers focusing on the actions and impacts of war and post-war events on countries and regions.
• Crimes of War Project collaboration of journalists, lawyers and scholars dedicated to raising public awareness of the laws of war and their application to situations of conflict.

National Security

• Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) Website A non-profit, bipartisan group providing research and analysis on national and international security strategies.
• Human Security Report Project Focuses on the impact of international involvement in wars, genocides and human rights abuses.
• World Security Institute A non-profit group providing research and journalism relating to global affairs, including information by topic or region.
• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Website Organization of 56 participating countries in Europe, Asia & North America focusing on preventing conflict and helping areas develop national security strategies.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM) Focuses on migration trends throughout the world and supports humane treatment of migrants, includes information on countries, diasporas, policy issues, etc.
• Forced Migration Review Covers involuntary migration issues throughout the world, including an introductory guide to the causes of forced migration as well as some journals focused on refugees and forced migration issues.
• UN Refugees & Migrants Gathers the official statistics on international migration movements throughout the world.

Corruption Indicators

• Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) - Transparency International Ranking of the levels of corruption in 180 countries determined by experts and surveys.
• Global Corruption Barometer - Transparency International Public opinion attitudes and experiences regarding corruption in dozens of countries.
• Bribe Payers Index - Transparency International Measures the likelihood firms based in the developed world to pay bribes to operate.
• Worldwide Governance Indicators Reports on indicators for 212 countries focusing on accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, rule of law and control of corruption.

Energy/Environment

• International Energy Association International organization focused on reporting energy development and consumption throughout the world.
• World Resources Institute Maps & Data Online collection of information regarding the environmental, social, and economic trends providing reports, statistics and graphics.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP) website Provides information and publications of the UNEP regarding the environment and climate change.

Health/Human Development

• World Health Organization Website Provides reports on health and disease in countries and health care programs in the developing world.
• Human Development Index Ranks countries on the level of human development, such as poverty levels, health, life expectancies, education, equality of genders, etc.
• Global Health Council Non-profit group's website focused on improving health of people throughout the world through education and health programs, including publications.
• UNAIDS Providing information on the UN's AIDS initiative to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS.

Globalization

• Global Policy Forum - Globalization Section Provides information on globalization of economies, politics and culture.
• International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Globalization Page Provides analysis on globalization and economic actions taken by the IMF affecting globalization.

• UNWomen Women and Gender Gateway to United Nations sources
• Internet Women's History Sourcebook A subset of the Internet Ancient, Medieval and Modern Sourcebooks that focus on women.
• World Bank Gender website Provides reports and publications regarding gender in developing countries and World Bank programs focusing on gender.

Population/Demographics

• Population Reference Bureau (PBR) A non-profit organization providing statistics and publication on population trends throughout the world, focusing on the effects of population growth on economics, health and the environment.
• World Population Trends - UN Provides information on population trends throughout the world including population growth, fertility, mortality, population policies, etc.
• Census Bureau International Data Base Provides rankings of countries by population growth, growth estimates, demographic indicators and population pyramids.

Elections/Democracy

• ElectionGuide Focuses on current elections, but includes previous elections back to 1998. Developed by a non-profit International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), the world's premiere election assistance organization.
• International Voter Turnout - IDEA Most comprehensive global collection of political participation statistics available, covers presidential & parliamentary elections, numbers of registered voters and information of false ballots.
• Freedom House Provides scores, reports and statistics covering democracy and freedom across the world. There are reports on civil liberties, political rights, freedom of speech, freedom of press, and countries transitioning to democracy.
• Fragile States Index - Fund for Peace Ranks the level of political stability in every country in the world.

• << Previous: Country Information
• Next: Int'l Organizations >>