Development Economics (Audio)

What are some basic theories we might use for approaching whether industrial policy can be effective?  Don't forget to pair this with our accompanying video on the evidence.

The Solow Model is a workhorse model of economic growth. Many subsequent papers in growth theory (and in business cycle theory) build on this model. A model of growth helps us to structure our thinking. Why is it, for example, that China is growing...

Using the Solow Model. What does the model predict when savings rates or other variables change?

Related videos: The Solow Model - (Brief, no math), The Solow Model 1 – Introduction, The Solow Model 3 – Taking the Model to Data, The Solow Model 4 –...

The Solow model is consistent with some aspects of the data on growth but not with other aspects. What do we learn from the consistencies and the inconsistencies?

Related videos: The Solow Model - (Brief, no math), The Solow Model 1 – Introduction, The...

The failure of the Solow model to duplicate the growth data quantitatively leads us to look for differences across countries in productivity. Why do some countries get less output from the same level of inputs as do other countries? The first half of...

Some countries that were rich in the past are poor today and vice-versa, despite the fact that geography hasn't changed. What does the reversal of fortune tell us about the causes of growth?

Institutions are important but where do institutions come from? Why do some countries have better institutions than others? Geography may play an indirect role in growth, through institutions, as well as a direct role.

The first modern development economist and in many ways still the best.  For that matter he is probably the best and most important economist ever.  Still.

Amid all the publicity and celebrity and hubbub, don't forget the value of his academic writings.  He's made contributions to numerous major fields in development, and on top of that integrated it with real world practice.

Trust cannot be underrated as an important source of growth and economic development.  Here is a look at what we know.  Lesson: culture really matters!