New paper "follows the money” using vaccine bonds as case study

New paper "follows the money” using vaccine bonds as case study

14 July 2022

In a paper published in the journal Economy and Space, Sarah Hughes-McLure of the University of Cambridge proposes a method of critical financial analysis, and cites IFFIm vaccine bonds as a case study.

In a paper published in the journal Economy and Space, Sarah Hughes-McLure of the University of Cambridge proposes a method of critical financial analysis, and cites IFFIm vaccine bonds as a case study.

The author presents an original “follow the money” methodology and advocates for adopting the approach, which uses quantitative methods to map and model flows of money. Drawing on the cases of vaccine bonds and rhino bonds, the author explains how such a methodology for evaluating the distribution of resources contributes to “understanding risk in society by uncovering financial risks, who faces them, and their significance.”

She writes, “IFFIm is situated in the context of a ‘beyond aid’ development landscape where the role of aid is reduced compared to other contributions to development finance and, in particular, private finance is playing an increasing role.” 

IFFIm "has played a leading role in developing social bonds and has been praised as a success story, earning recognition from the UN, World Bank, G8, OECD, and Financial Times among others," the author states in the article. 

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