Adam Smith International 348d ago

Our Thought Leaders Forum "Bargains or Betrayals? The Role of Elites in National Development" with renowned Belgian-British economist Prof. Stefan Dercon took place on November 9, 2023. Prof. Dercon is the author of the popular and insightful book, ‘Gambling on Development: Why Some Countries Win and Others Lose’. Dive into a thought-provoking dialogue that dissects the underlying forces and motivations shaping nations' paths to development. Our panel delves into the complexities and contentious roles of elites in cultivating or crippling their countries' growth and prosperity: ➡️ Prof. Stefan Dercon, our main speaker, led the event, outlining the concept of ‘Development Bargains’ and how it applies to several of the countries that we work in. ➡️ Neil Fowler, ASI’s Director of Global Programme Impact, Gayatri Sahgal, PhD Candidate and Independent Researcher, and Daniel Pimlott, Director of the Governance and Stability team at ASI, joined the conversation, sharing their perspectives from having worked on programmes in some of the most challenging and complex contexts around the world. ➡️ Guiding us through this dialogue was our Head of Africa Suvojit Chattopadhyay, who moderated the discussion, ensuring a stimulating exchange of ideas. How do we assess whether ‘development bargains’ are taking shape in countries where we work, and in particular in fragile contexts? How can we improve the odds? Join us as we explore the pivotal role the international community can play (or not!) in leveraging instruments like aid, trade, defence cooperation, and diplomatic engagement to guide, support, and amplify the impact of development bargains.