Economics & Development

Macroeconomic fundamentals have continued to improve in 2025 and into 2026, though the Middle East conflict is creating mixed but largely manageable macroeconomic effects for Nigeria. Translating these macroeconomic improvements into better living conditions, however, will require faster, sustained, and more inclusive growth. Strengthening Nigerians’ capabilities for productive employment is critical to this objective. This Nigeria Development Update (NDU) focuses on early childhood development as a foundation for Nigeria’s future prosperity.

This note provides an overview of the claims management processes of national health insurance agencies (HIAs) administering case-based payments such as diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) in lower-middle-income countries. It describes the steps typically taken before and aft er payment and suggests areas for improvement in Indonesia. It complements related briefs on payer functions, credentialing, and contracting.

Is it possible that a single, double-duty policy tool can tackle Indonesia’s double burden of malnutrition? As Indonesia mobilizes large-scale efforts to tackle stunting and micronutrient deficiency, there is a growing, silent epidemic of obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The costs of obesity and related NCDs is considerable and projected to escalate further, posing a significant threat to human and economic development. Fiscal policy is now recognized as an important tool to influence price as a driver of consumption. Public health and policy makers have reached consensus that coordinated, coherent policy action is needed to address unhealthy food environments and reduce availability of unhealthy diets that contribute to overweight and obesity. This policy brief explores how Indonesia might deploy sugar-sweetened beverage taxation to decrease unhealthy dietary patterns while mobilizing resources to expand rice fortification.