Mind The Gap: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Infrastructure on Global Development

What is the causal effectiveness of large-scale infrastructure development in poverty reduction? On Friday 19th January, British International Investment (BII) hosted the latest Private Sector Development Research Network (PSDRN) seminar on ‘The Impact of Infrastructure on Development Outcomes’. What insights do policy makers require in designing interventions that maximise the developmental impact of infrastructure? What…

What does the Wheeler Institute’s DL Labs internship look like?

Former intern Chris Wright (LBS MBA 2023) reports on his five months travelling across the Indian subcontinent as a DL Labs intern. From conducting research on-the-ground to liaising with high profile entrepreneurs, here’s how the experience informed his understanding of social enterprises. Dharma Life is an NGO driving progress through a network of 17,000 rural…

Financial Inclusion in Latin America: A Focus on Women and the Potential of FinTech

How is new tech changing business in Latin America? Cristina Gamboa Peralta (London Business School, MBA2025) reports. The terms ‘sustainability’, ‘financial inclusion’, ‘social mobility’, and ‘value creation’ have permeated the vocabulary of business. People are driven not just by personal success but by the desire to make a positive impact. This mindset has transcended academia,…

What can finance take away from COP28?  

How might COP28 impact global finance? Last week, the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development hosted ‘COP28 debrief breakfast: what can finance take away from COP28?’, in collaboration with ESG Book and the Climate Bonds Initiative, to explore some possible answers. Characterised by a sense of urgency and a challenging economic environment, COP28 marked a…

The Sui Foundation gives $1 million gift to the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development

Pioneering Layer 1 blockchain Sui has made a $1 million contribution to the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development to support our mission in new and exciting ways. This donation is a part of London Business School’s ambitious and transformational £200 million fundraising campaign, Forever Forward. The Sui Foundation is a pioneering blockchain, responsible for a wide range of…

Sustainable Business: New Climate Standards for Africa

In November 2023, the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development in conjunction with the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS) hosted a four-part virtual lecture series that delved into the importance of new climate standards for business, with a particular focus on the African continent. In 2021 during COP26 in Glasgow, the Trustees of the IFRS…

Rethinking Capitalism: In Conversation with Daron Acemoglu

The Wheeler Institute at the London Business School was proud to host Daron Acemoglu for a presentation on his and Simon Johnson’s latest book, Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity, followed by a discussion with London Business School professor Andrew J Scott. The event, attended by more than 600 people in…

Supporting entrepreneurs in informal ecosystems: Lessons from Alexandra

In our first two articles about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alexandra, we explored the typical challenges faced by microentrepreneurs and informal entrepreneurs operating in South African townships, before looking at the institutional ecosystem in which these entrepreneurs operate. Our third and final post in this 3-part series will explore the way forward: Can the disconnect…

Mapping the SMME Ecosystem in informal markets: Learnings from Alexandra

Our previous post on informal entrepreneurship in Alexandra focused on the typical challenges encountered by mainly informal entrepreneurs and microbusiness owners. This second post will focus on the supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem: Who are the key role players, and what kind of support is available to a typical entrepreneur in Alex? Does this ecosystem provide what…