It is hard to understand why some areas within Mexico show some of the hemisphere’s worst health metrics, given that Mexico is one of the most economically advanced nations within the Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC). The health situation within Mexico is very uneven, with generally better overall health conditions in the industrialized north of Mexico and considerably worse in the regions where Indigenous people make their homes. This essay seeks to explain why health conditions remain so unimproved in parts of Mexico and for parts of the population, finding the roots for much of the problem in Mexico’s history and in its highly fragmented medical system. Mexico’s healthcare system, once the signature achievement of social progress over the course of the second half of the twentieth century, has ironically come to represent the largest obstacle to much-needed reform. Mexico’s present system is impossibly convoluted, frustrating to access, and leaves most Mexicans shut out. As such, the Mexican health system provides an excellent example for developing societies of how not to organize the provisioning of public healthcare.

Bribery and corruption take diverse forms worldwide yet share common drivers. This study examines the persistence of petty bribery in Ghana across six electoral cycles from 1999 to 2022, drawing on nationally representative Afrobarometer survey data. It integrates insights from neo-patrimonialism, structural inequality, rational choice, and relative deprivation theories to explain how political transitions, economic disparities, and perceptions of unfairness contribute to the normalization of bribery in public service delivery. Using logistic regression models and longitudinal trend analysis, the article shows that bribery surges during democratic transitions, particularly when ruling parties change. The findings also reveal that structurally marginalized populations—especially rural, low-income, and less-educated groups—face disproportionately high exposure to bribery, though this pattern has shifted over time. The study argues that democratic institutions alone cannot curb corruption when underlying structural inequalities and informal governance networks remain intact. By combining institutional analysis with sociological theories of inequality, this article contributes to current debates on governance failure, political accountability, and corruption in lower-middle income countries. The Ghanaian case offers broader implications for understanding why anti-corruption reforms often stall in electorally competitive but structurally unequal societies.

Egypt not only suffers from a history of colonial exploitative practices, but also lives in a present that is shaped by new forms of oppression. One clear indication of this fact is the clash between economic interests and environmental concerns. The pattern of Western investments into Egyptian industry and the Egyptian government’s deal-making with the Western stakeholders shows utilization of the region for profit-making without sufficient resource contribution that could offset the damage to the natural environment. Focusing on Egypt, this study contributes to understanding the larger pattern of injustice in the Global South, perpetuated by the Global North.

The Meitei people of Champu Khangpok, a floating village in the Loktak wetland system in the state of Manipur, India, have witnessed in recent years the mass burning of their floating huts. Rebuilding and reoccupying their natural space on this now permanent reservoir of a hydroelectric project involves constant negotiation with the state government, which is trying to craft laws that make living on floating huts and fishing in the reservoir illegal. This article explores the language, tools, and tactics, which have evolved to contest the state government’s actions.

The pivotal role of innovation in fostering economic growth is widely acknowledged, with a growing consensus emphasizing its correlation with elevated productivity levels and enhanced competitiveness. Yet, there is limited research exploring potential factors that could boost the positive effects of innovation. This study addressed this fundamental gap in the literature by exploring whether financial development factors (private credit, bank assets, and interest rate) significantly moderate the effect of innovation on GDP and GDP per capita in South America—a region where this topic has not been widely studied with data on patents and economic growth. Using regression analysis with panel data from 10 South American countries, this study presents empirical evidence that suggests that policies in the region should promote strategic collaborations between governments and financial institutions such as banks with the aim of creating an environment that allows researchers to increase innovation outcomes and that rewards firms and entrepreneurs for innovating and adopting new technologies. Moreover, the findings of this article underscore that it is imperative that South America allocates more resources to innovation, recognizing it as the driving force to fuel economic growth.

Building communities is one way to limit inequality in the global development process. In Indonesia, that principle can best be illustrated in the Hindu Balinese compound. But does discrimination against women, especially those of lower class and caste, fundamentally undermine the community? Feminists contend so, but what is the nature of the pressure on Balinese women? Why is this experienced? How could this discrimination be resolved? Drawing on a wider intersectional feminism, primary data from 72 people and thematic analysis, it seems both the reproductive and property rights of Balinese women are constrained. But ordinary Balinese women, activists, and intellectuals do not share the Western feminist case of dismantling communities for individual human rights. Instead, Balinese people largely advocate Hindu community alternatives, at the heart of which is strengthening the institution of ‘nyentana’. This alternative helps to decolonize “gender,” and reproductive justice, while putting the case for studying social economics a bit more in development studies.

This article examines the response of the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the government of Trinidad and Tobago against the Zika and COVID-19 outbreaks. These contrasting diseases were chosen to examine the surveillance systems and responses and the preventative public health measures that were implemented to protect the population. Health experts were interviewed and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the government of Trinidad and Tobago were prepared to respond to the Zika outbreak. However, there is much to be improved in the case of COVID-19. Concrete policy recommendations are discussed.