Library | ESG issues

Inequality

Inequality refers to disparities in income, wealth, and access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. While some progress has been made, inequalities persist and deepen for vulnerable populations, including refugees, migrants, Indigenous peoples, older persons, people with disabilities, and children. These disparities hinder sustainable development, threaten social stability, and limit economic growth. Addressing inequality requires inclusive policies, equitable access to resources, and protections against discrimination and social exclusion.

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CARE for women: Investing in care delivery to improve women’s lives and livelihoods

World Economic Forum
This report examines the 34% of the global women's health gap caused by care delivery failures. Focusing on cardiovascular risk and perinatal depression, it outlines the CARE framework to standardise screening and referral pathways, demonstrating that preventative care investments yield a three- to six-fold return.
Research
19 May 2026

Flood risk, insurance, and housing in the United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
This research provides household-level estimates of flood risk exposure across socioeconomic groups in the US. It reveals that high-income households own a disproportionate share of floodplain property wealth, whilst a vulnerable subset of low-income, uninsured homeowners faces severe financial risks from flood damage and rising insurance premiums.
Research
7 May 2026

Off the books: Inside Australia's hidden system of migrant worker exploitation

Migrant Justice Institute (MJI)
This report analyses the systemic underpayment of temporary migrant workers in Australia. Surveying almost 10,000 individuals, it reveals two-thirds receive less than their legal entitlements. Employers frequently utilise insecure structures, such as misclassified independent contracting and casual work, to evade their responsibilities under the Fair Work Act.
Research
6 May 2026

Acceleration is not a strategy: A framework for directing AI towards public value before it's too late

Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
This report outlines a framework for European governments to steer artificial intelligence towards public value rather than just accelerating sector growth. It recommends implementing AI directionism by targeting high-impact uses, preparing priority sectors for adoption, curbing big tech monopolies, and ensuring the economic benefits are broadly shared.
Research
15 April 2026

Closing the rural Credit divide: Pathways to increase PRONAF access for smallholders

Climate Policy Initiative
This report analyses regional disparities in Brazilian smallholders' access to the PRONAF credit programme. Expanding technical assistance and co-operative membership are critical complementary policies to improve financial inclusion and climate resilience.
Research
8 April 2026

How poverty fell

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
Global extreme poverty fell mainly within cohorts, with substantial household churn and varied exit pathways. Sector shifts, migration, occupation changes and women’s labour force participation contributed unevenly; most households exited poverty without these changes.
Research
29 April 2026

Equity in principle, misalignment in practice: Adaptation finance governance in the adaptation fund and green climate fund

Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (University of Oxford)
The report argues that adaptation finance through the Adaptation Fund and Green Climate Fund formally prioritises equity, vulnerability and country ownership, but remains constrained by voluntary funding, access barriers and project-based delivery, limiting alignment with Global South priorities.
Research
22 April 2026

SAIL: Systems Aware Investing Launchpad

The Investment Integrated Project (TIIP)
SAIL (Systems Aware Investing Launchpad) is an AI-enhanced platform developed by TIIP to support institutional investors in implementing system-level investing strategies. It provides tools for strategy development, benchmarking, reporting and collaboration, helping users assess and manage systemic environmental, social and financial risks.
Online tool/database

2026 Living Wage Dataset

Valuing Impact
The 2026 Living Wage Dataset by Valuing Impact is a free global database covering 217 countries and eight household scenarios. It uses the Anker and Anker methodology with updated cost-of-living data to estimate living wages for urban and rural households, supporting sustainability, labour practice and supply chain analysis.
Online tool/database

Tackling governance and financing for sustainability transitions

International Resource Panel
The report argues current financial systems misallocate capital towards resource-intensive activities, hindering sustainability transitions. It recommends policy, governance and financial reforms to redirect investment towards resource efficiency, low-carbon development and equitable transition pathways, particularly in resource-dependent economies.
Research
6 June 2025

Indigenous wisdom and co-creation towards decolonisation: A review of Indigenous inclusion in management education

This review finds Western business schools have often excluded Indigenous knowledge, and argues decolonising management education requires Indigenous self-determination, truth-telling, trust-building, co-created curricula and relational pedagogies grounded in Indigenous wisdom and communities.
Research
25 April 2026

Free to be exploited: The abuse of platform-based food delivery riders in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Equidem
Report finds migrant delivery riders in Saudi Arabia and UAE face systemic exploitation via third-party logistics, including coercive employment, wage abuses, unsafe conditions, and restricted mobility. Weak enforcement and outsourcing obscure accountability. Recommends stronger regulation, corporate oversight, and international labour standards.
Research
13 April 2026

Our Watch: Change the story and key frameworks

Our Watch
Change the Story is an evidence-based national framework developed by Our Watch to guide the primary prevention of violence against women in Australia. It examines social, economic and cultural drivers of gender inequality and outlines coordinated actions across institutions and communities to address these underlying causes.
Research

Our Watch

Issue Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
Our Watch is an Australian not-for-profit organisation leading primary prevention of violence against women and children. It promotes gender equality through research, frameworks, education and workplace programmes. Initiatives such as “Change the Story” support policy and practice change, helping organisations address drivers of gender-based violence across communities, workplaces and institutions.
Organisation
1 research item

Advancing gender equality through gender lens investing

Altiorem
Examines gender lens investing as an approach integrating gender analysis into investment decisions to promote equality and returns. Outlines strategies, benefits, challenges, and case studies, linking to SDGs and emphasising measurement, engagement, and diverse investment practices.
Research
16 November 2023

World of work series: Employment and social trends

International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Global labour markets remain resilient amid uncertainty, but decent work deficits persist. Informality, working poverty and gender gaps remain widespread, especially in low-income countries. Productivity growth is weak, and demographic shifts and AI add risks. Economic growth alone is insufficient to improve employment quality or social outcomes.
Research
13 January 2026
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