The Big Picture: Navigating the Developing World

Season 2: Episode 1

The leading models for development and how it progresses in a country differ greatly because of a country’s resources and the societal differences. Dr. Stefan Dercon and Dr. Ali Hasanain talk about the big picture in terms of the world economy, global development and growth. They dive deep into the discussion of global development in the context of developing countries, elite bargains and choosing the right state objectives.

Dr. Stefan Dercon is a Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government and the Economics Department, and a Fellow of Jesus College. He is also Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies. Between 2011 and 2017, he was Chief Economist of the Department of International Development (DFID), the government department in charge with the UK’s aid policy and spending. Between 2020-2022, he was the Development Policy Advisor to successive Foreign Secretaries at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Dr. Ali Hasanain is an Associate Professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). He served as the Head of Department from 2019 to 2022. Dr. Hasanain previously directed the LUMS engagement on the World Bank’s Pakistan at One Hundred Initiative, which sought to support greater debate and study Pakistan’s medium term future, out to the year 2047. He has also previously been a member of the Punjab Government’s Economic Advisory Committee.