Cities and regions are often described as the key implementation layer for green and economic transformation. But what does that actually mean in practice? If we take this idea seriously, then place matters in a fundamental way. It is not only the location where policies are implemented, but the context that shapes what is possible—through its economic structures, its networks, its capabilities, and also its social dynamics.

A review of RIS Discussion Paper #336 - Reimagining India’s Quality Ecosystem by Rajeev Kher, Anil Jauhri and Om Stutee The very title of this new discussion paper from India’s Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) deserves a moment’s reflection. To reimagine something is to do more than reform it - it is to reconceive it from the ground up. And to speak of a quality ecosystem rather than a quality infrastructure is itself a statement of intent. An ec

The World Development Report 2025 Standards for Development (World Bank Group, 2025a) marks a significant moment for the quality infrastructure community. For the first time in a major World Bank flagship publication, quality infrastructure is not a footnote but a central argument: that standards, metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessment are the "invisible infrastructure" behind trade, investment, public health, and economic growth. This is a recognition that QI p

The way a problem is described often reveals what kind of expertise is required to solve it. It can also indicate whose issue it is and what resources are presumed to be needed. Experts might describe problems in ways that are hard for most people to understand, creating a sense of alienation or distance from issues that could be crucial for individuals to tackle. Many important problems, like climate change, water insecurity, or human trafficking, are presented in ways that