NYU’s Development Research Institute unites research, dialogue, and strategy to empower citizens, build resilient nations, and foster allied collaboration. With its Wahba Initiative, the Financial Access Initiative, Africa House, and others, DRI advances solutions at the crossroads of development, infrastructure, trade, technology, and geopolitics.
360° View of Alliances: How They Benefit America—And How They Must Evolve
360° View of Alliances: How They Benefit America—And How They Must Evolve
Alliances at the Crossroads By Mark R. Kennedy, Founding Director, Wahba Initiative for Strategic Competition Alliances are America’s most underappreciated strategic asset. They extend our reach, multiply our capabilities, and give our actions legitimacy. They deter adversaries not only through collective military strength, but also by weaving together economic, technological, diplomatic, and cultural ties that […]
Learn MoreSatellite Image Analytics, Land Change and Food Security
Satellite Image Analytics, Land Change and Food Security
Abstract Changing patterns and reduction in agricultural land are among the fundamental problems that impacts food security in developing regions like India. Rapid economic growth coupled with increasing populations and changes in climatic patterns are among the main factors impacting availability of agricultural land. On a macroscopic scale, due to the lack of good quality […]
Learn MoreAsymmetric Information and Remittances: Evidence from Matched Administrative Data
Asymmetric Information and Remittances: Evidence from Matched Administrative Data
Abstract Using new large-scale, administrative data matching remittances and monthly payroll disbursals, we demonstrate how migrants earnings in the United Arab Emirates a ect their remittances. We consider several types of income changes: Ramadan, weather shocks, a labor reform and returns to time in the UAE. We demonstrate that two key characteristics of the income […]
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About DRI
NYU’s Develop Research Institute and the Wahba Initiative with their partners, the Financial Access Initiative, Africa House, and the Center for Technology and Economic Development, bridge academic research and policy action to address today’s global challenges. From development to deterrence, we equip leaders with insight that spans economics, infrastructure, technology and alliances.
Development That Delivers Opportunity
Inclusive development underpins economic security. Advancing financial access, human capital, institutional trust, and entrepreneurship strengthens prosperity and expands opportunity in every region.
Learn MoreInfrastructure That Binds and Builds Power
Infrastructure defines power—linking allies, securing chokepoints, and enabling the flow of goods, energy, and data. The goal: systems that empower, not entrap.
Learn MoreEnhancing Resilience and Expanding Reach
Resilience must be realistic. Targeted production, diversified sourcing, and trade expansion reduce vulnerability while sustaining innovation and competitiveness.
Learn MoreSecuring Democratic Digital Dominance
Digital leadership is decisive. Democracies must lead in semiconductors, AI, networks, and space to ensure secure, open, and values-based systems prevail.
Learn MoreModernizing Alliances for Mutual Advantage
To compete at scale and speed, alliances must modernize—aligning across defense, trade, digital rules, and infrastructure to convert shared values into shared strength.
Learn MoreEvidence-Based Practice in Development Policy
Effective development policy must be grounded in rigorous evidence, not assumptions. Translating research into actionable strategies that work in real-world contexts helps governments, institutions, and communities make informed decisions that deliver measurable and lasting impact.
Learn MoreFinancial Access in a Growing World
The Financial Access Initiative conducts rigorous research on how low-income households use financial tools like savings, credit, insurance, and payments. Its work informs policies and product design that expand meaningful financial inclusion worldwide.
Learn MoreInsights
Timely analysis and commentary on development, geoeconomics, technology, and trade—helping decision-makers and scholars navigate the shifting landscape of global power and prosperity.
Events
High-impact convenings that connect researchers, policymakers, and global partners to shape coordinated responses to shared development and strategic challenges.
Experts
Meet the scholars, fellows, and practitioners advancing DRI’s work across domains. Their expertise spans academia, government, and industry.
Regions
Explore how development trends and strategic pressures intersect in key regions—from the Indo-Pacific to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.