GDP Center Hosts Annual Paul Streeten Distinguished Lecture in Global Development Policy
On March 23, 2022, the Global Development Policy (GDP) Center, an affiliated regional center at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, hosted its annual Paul Streeten Distinguished Lecture in Global Development Policy on the future of development strategy.
The Streeten Lecture celebrates the example and legacy of BU Professor Paul Streeten as an eminent economist and interdisciplinary scholar whose work had a significant impact on global development policy. This year’s lecture was delivered by Dani Rodrik, renowned economist and Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Jean Morrison, BU Provost and Chief Academic Officer, opened the event stating the lectureship shines a light on scholars working in the interdisciplinary Streeten tradition. Kevin Gallagher, Pardee School Professor of Global Development Policy and Director of the GDP Center, followed offering background on Streeten, discussing the interdisciplinary nature of development research at BU, and introducing Rodrik.
In his lecture, Rodrik discussed the importance of development strategy as opposed to particular development policies. Rodrik said the goal of any strategy is to tackle the central problem of “economic development” – the challenge of structural transformation to overcome productive dualism in an inclusive manner. He noted that industrialization-driven economic development is less likely today than historically; as an alternative, Rodrik offered up a “good jobs” development model, which focuses on the promotion of higher quality jobs in small- and medium-sized enterprises through employer-linked training policies, wage subsidies, customized business incentives, and services.
A Q&A session followed Rodrik’s lecture during which he addressed questions on the role of national and multilateral development banks in formulating development strategies, the struggles of lower-income countries, and more.
A recording of the lecture can be viewed below.
The GDP Center is a university-wide research center affiliated with the Pardee School of Global Studies. The GDP Center’s mission is to advance policy-oriented research for financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. Visit the GDP Center’s website for more.