Putting economics to good use
rigorous analysis | practical solutions | positive change
Vivid Economics is a strategic economics consultancy spanning public policy and support for commercial decision making with a broad, international focus


Vivid Economics becomes part of McKinsey & Company
We are excited to announce that as of March 4, 2021 Vivid Economics and Planetrics are now part of McKinsey & Company.
Read more about the acquisition and how we’ll work with McKinsey in ‘putting economics to good use’, helping clients respond to critical structural changes facing their organisations, such as the urgent implications of climate change and the transition to net-zero carbon emissions: https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/new-at-mckinsey-blog
A note to our valued clients: We will continue to provide our high-quality support to all existing client relationships and to our projects with you. Client teams and service levels will remain the same. If you have any questions please contact Laure Gravier. We look forward to sharing more about this exciting development soon.

Dasgupta Review: Vivid Economics in collaboration with the Natural History Museum finds delayed action doubles costs
Today HM Treasury launched the Dasgupta Review, an independent global review on the Economics of Biodiversity. The Review sets out the economic case that our economy is embedded in nature and that a sustainable future requires a change in economic policy. Vivid Economics in collaboration with the Natural History Museum contributed to this Review, finding that action to protect nature now is far cheaper and avoids higher costs than a delayed response. A delay of 10 years would more than double the social cost of intervention, from 8% to 17% of current global GDP.
To learn more about it, click here

Our response to COVID-19
At Vivid Economics, we are supporting our clients through all the challenges they face.
Discover how we help our clients anticipate the short-term impacts and design rebound trajectories for COVID-19 here
Upcoming event
Report Launch: Innovative financing’s potential to drive sustainability in the built environment sector.
Date: March 31st 2021
Location: Online Event
Start time: 2:00-4:00 pm GMT
Vivid Economics in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, is conducting research to identify the stand-out innovations and tools being developed in this space that have the potential to drive change on a wider scale. Our research looks at:
The impacts of these innovations, and how those could be maximised through further action and investment;
- Key blockers to innovation
- Practical actions for progress in this space.
Vivid Economics and Connected Places Catapult will present some of the key findings of our research in the webinar, as well as showcasing innovations that illustrate the potential in this space.
The event is an opportunity to learn more about the potential in this space, and to help shape the interventions that will drive wider application of innovative financing to deliver sustainability in the built environment sector.
Register for the event, here
Report launch
1. PMR Perspectives Series – Carbon Pricing Assessment & Decision Making: A guide to adopting a carbon price.
Date: April 13th 2021
Location: Online Event
Start time: 09:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Many jurisdictions are considering carbon pricing to help achieve climate commitments, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and net zero targets. However, knowing where and how to start can be challenging. What analysis is required? What issues need to be considered? Which carbon pricing instrument is right for a jurisdiction? How should analysis be presented to decision makers?
This session will provide an overview of the process for building the case for carbon pricing and choosing an appropriate carbon pricing instrument. It will provide space for a dialogue with jurisdictions that have already begun the carbon pricing journey and provide an overview of the PMR’s recent publication ‘Carbon Pricing Assessment and Decision Making’.
Welcome Remarks: Wendy Hughes, Manager, Carbon Markets and Innovation, World Bank
Moderator: Olga Yukhymchuk, Ministry of Energy and Environment, Ukraine
Expert Presentation: Joseph Pryor, PMR Secretariat, World Bank
Panel from Vivid:
- Juan Carlos Arredondo, Engagement Manager, Vivid Economics and former Climate Change Director, SEMARNAT, Mexico
Register for the event, here
2. PMR Perspectives Series – From Theory to Practice: Launch of the ETS Handbook – Registration
Date: April 14th 2021
Location: Online Event
Start time: 09:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Growing ambition in jurisdictions’ climate targets has resulted in an increased adoption of Emissions Trading Systems (ETSs). Currently, 38 countries, 18 states or provinces, and 6 cities have adopted an ETS and additional systems are under development. While not a silver bullet, an ETS can help ensure jurisdictions meet their targets at least cost. However, to maximize its effectiveness, an ETS needs to be designed in line with a jurisdiction’s context.
This event will mark the release of the updated version of the ETS Handbook jointly developed by the PMR and the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP). The updated Handbook has drawn from recent learnings gained over the last five years as jurisdictions around the world have gathered experience in designing, implementing and refining ETSs.
This event will provide an overview of the key design elements and policy issues as well as highlight experiences and lessons learned from jurisdictions that have implemented an ETS.
Welcome Remarks: World Bank and ICAP
Moderator: Emma Krause, ICAP
Expert Presentation: Stuart Evans, Vivid Economics
Register for the event, here

Greenness of Stimulus Index
Over the past months the world has witnessed unprecedented government financial interventions in response to COVID-19. Governments have rightly put people first and focussed on the immediate implications of the crisis. But analysis by Vivid Economics concludes that announced stimulus to date will have a net negative environmental impact in 16 of the G20 countries and economies. As a result, the vast majority of the money going to business in the short term could be risking future environmental sustainability.
The coronavirus shows us that our fate is inextricably linked to that of the natural world. Governments might be inadvertently creating conditions which make things worse when they have the opportunity and responsibility to ensure short-term emergency measures lead to a better more resilient future.
Read the Case study
Greenness of Stimulus Press Release
Read the Green Labour note
Visit the Finance for Biodiversity Initiative website (F4B) to find out more about our work
We were recently featured on The Guardian. Read the report here

New parametric insurance product to be developed for emergency flood relief costs in Bangladesh
Vivid Economics and a consortium of partners have received funding from the UK Space Agency to design a parametric insurance product for emergency flood relief costs in Bangladesh. The project aims to make post-disaster response faster, cheaper, and more efficient. To achieve these goals, we will develop a meso-level parametric insurance product which rapidly disburses funding for disaster relief and recovery to the government based on real time updates of satellite imagery on flood events. We will also develop a budget allocation platform to provide guidance on where and for what purpose relief and recovery funding should be allocated.
Delivering for our clients – Discover our latest case studies
We serve a wide array of local and national governments, multinational companies, international and non-government organisations, private and public financial institutions
Follow us on Twitter!
Join our Director @thomaskansy tomorrow at 2:30 pm GMT as he speaks at The Inevitable Policy Response 2021: Forecast Policies presented by @PRI_News
Register here: https://t.co/6rSXPhLSOz
Today saw the release of an ambitious proposal by @F4BInitiative to provide governments and investors with tools to recognise nature’s contribution to long-term sustainability and economic performance, at the same time contributing to urgent immediate solutions to the debt crisis https://t.co/QPERt5jG52