allAfrica.com (14.09.2017) With the commodities crisis crippling the economies of countries like South Africa and Nigeria, it's become more important than ever that Africans develop the blueprint for their own start-up nations. While industrialization is an appealing path to growth for countries like Ethiopia, more nations should value the developmental potential sitting in front of them: Africa's large informal sector.

worldbank.org (18.09.2017) The current policy discussion on fiscal redistribution in low- and middle-income countries focuses on the power of fiscal policy to reduce inequality but less on the impact of fiscal policy on the standard of living of the poor. However, a new World Bank book—The Distributional Impact of Taxes and Transfers: Evidence from Eight Developing Countries—reveals that although fiscal systems are always equalizing, they often reduce the actual consumption of goods of the poor.

Le Soleil (18.08.2017) Les 165 députés issus des élections législatives du 30 juillet dernier pourraient examiner en priorité le projet de loi sur la Couverture maladie universelle (Cmu). Une volonté du gouvernement sénégalais de donner un encadrement législatif au droit à une santé pour tous. L’assurance a été donnée, vendredi dernier, par des acteurs des mutuelles de santé réunis dans la capitale du Saloum.

Daily Sabah (13.09.2017) Turkey, along with China, Rwanda, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea and Laos, recorded the biggest improvements in universal health care between 2000 and 2016, which translated into better vaccine coverage, as well as fewer child deaths and malaria infections, according to a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-sponsored study published by the medical journal Lancet yesterday.

The Guardian (15.09.2017) Speaking to opponents of universal healthcare in the US today is much like speaking to a moon-landing denier or any other conspiracy theorist – they insist on arguing impossibility in the face of proven reality.

worldbank.org (31.08.2017) Thailand recently announced that it will put into action a national social assistance program for poor families. Such a program can help reduce poverty significantly. It would also move Thailand into the growing ranks of middle-income countries, such as China, Malaysia, Brazil, Turkey and the Philippines, that provide the poor with a ‘safety net’.

Le Monde (05.09.2017) Très contesté, le RSI disparaîtra le 1er janvier 2018. Les indépendants seront adossés au régime général de la Sécurité sociale à l’issue d’une transition de deux ans.

Jordan Times (31.08.2017) A new partnership aimed at strengthening the national social protection system for the most disadvantaged children in the Kingdom was launched on Monday by the National Aid Fund (NAF), the EU and UNICEF, a statement from the UN agency said.

Social Europe (28.08.2017) Europe, like the United States, has seen dramatic changes in how people work. Compared to 15 years ago, many more people have part-time, temp or mini-jobs, or are self-employed. While the number of full-time jobs has increased recently as the unemployment rate has slowly declined, far more of Europe‘s employment growth has come from part-time and temp jobs. Even Germany, whose economy has fared better than most in recent years, has seen employment growth driven by part-time jobs, which have doubled since 2000 and now comprise about 27% of all jobs.

Le Soleil (18.08.2017) Les 165 députés issus des élections législatives du 30 juillet dernier pourraient examiner en priorité le projet de loi sur la Couverture maladie universelle (Cmu). Une volonté du gouvernement sénégalais de donner un encadrement législatif au droit à une santé pour tous. L’assurance a été donnée, vendredi dernier, par des acteurs des mutuelles de santé réunis dans la capitale du Saloum.