Paper exploring links between institutions and economic development wins 2019 best paper award
Research by Professor Kunal Sen of the Global Development Institute and the United Nations University (UNU-Wider), and Sabyasachi Kar and Amrita Roy from the Institute of Economic Growth in Delhi, India has won Economic Modelling’s Best Paper of the year award for 2019.
The Double Trap: Institutions and economic development was published in the journal in January 2019 and examined whether there was a link between institutional quality and economic development. The research explored data from over 80 countries and across a period of 3 decades (1985-2015), with the authors finding evidence of several countries which are stuck in poor quality institutions traps. Additionally, the research established that poor institutional traps are major determinants of low income traps. read more…
In conversation: Nicholas Jepson discusses China’s impact on the Global South
In this episode, Nicholas Jepson talks to Seth Schindler about his new book In China’s wake: how the commodity boom transformed development strategies in the global south.
Dr Nicholas Jepson is a Hallsworth Research Fellow in Chinese Political Economy at the Global Development Institute. Dr Seth Schindler is a Senior Lecturer in Urban Development & Transformation at the Global Development Institute.
GDI Lecture: How China’s growth transformed development strategies in the global south with Nicholas Jepson
Listen or watch Nicholas Jepson, Global Development Institute, discuss how China’s growth transformed development strategies in the global south. Nicholas is currently a Hallsworth Research Fellow in Chinese Political Economy.
His talk outlines his new book ‘In China’s wake: how the commodity boom transformed development strategies in the global south’
Have investment treaties protected inward investment in the wake of the global financial crisis?
Gindo Tampubolon, Lecturer in Poverty, Global Development Institute
The Monterrey consensus (2002) on financing for development recognised the importance of investment for global development; appreciating the unique resources channelled through direct investment rather than through aid alone. Through investments from foreign countries (often advanced economies), host countries (often developing economies) access necessary skills, technologies and markets in industrial economies.
For these reasons some countries have unilaterally relaxed their inward investment regimes while others have forged partnerships with other countries in bilateral or multilateral investment treaties. With such treaties host countries attract multinational corporations to bring investments, skills and technology, and conversely, to open foreign markets, achieved by enhancing terms for inward investments such as by adopting international arbitration for commercial dispute.
In practice the benefit of investment treaty on inward investment has been elusive. Two key drivers lie behind changes in inward investment. First, the last decade has witnessed investment activities by multinational corporations slowed by the global financial crisis of 2008.Second, over a much longer period, from just before the turn of the century, multinational corporations’ global investment activities have exhibited a character shift. These corporations roamed the world not only to secure market and materials but increasingly to collaborate in creating innovations.
Gender and social assistance program
Vidhya Unnikrishnan, Lecturer in Development Economics, Global Development Institute
There is a growing debate on the need to focus on the gender aspect of the social assistance program. The risks of economic vulnerability and poverty differ between men and women. Previous research has found that the poverty rate among women (who are post-reproductive age) in India is 80% higher than men (Calvi, 2016). The alarming rate of poverty rates faced by older women results in excess female mortality. An important reason that is cited for missing-women at an older age* in India is their reduced bargaining power. Other works have similarly highlighted declining health status and increased disabilities among older women opposed to men in India (Chaudhri, 2008). This suggests the need to focus on the gender dimensions of social assistance programs. read more…
Abed Bhai obituary
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC, sadly passed away at the end of last year. Many within the Global Development Institute work closely with BRAC and the news deeply touched many colleagues.
Professor David Hulme recalls his experience of working with Abed Bhai. read more…
Professor David Hulme warns against DFID merger
Podcast: the Aging-Home-Migration Nexus with Luis Eduardo Perez Murcia
Luis Eduardo Perez Murcia, University of Trento, recently visited the GDI to give a talk entitled ‘I am afraid of dying without seeing my daughter again’: Looking at the Aging-Home-Migration Nexus.
Horizon-2020 Winter School at the University of Manchester
From 9th to 13th December, Professor Aminu Mamman hosted a group of scholars and researchers from the University of Rennes 2, France; University of Bielefeld, Germany; University of Abertay, Dundee; University of Ghana; University of Chek Ante Diop, Senegal; ISCAE Business School, Morocco; and the University of Duala, Cameroon. They were here for a Winter School as part of the ManaGlobal Horizon-2020 RISE Research Project funded by the European Union. The project focuses on the understanding of how globalization leads to the hybridization of business and management practices in Africa. read more…
Emerging research on pharmaceuticals and development in the global South
Rory Horner, Senior Lecturer in Globalisation and Political Economy, Global Development Institute
Researchers and practitioners of development tend to give particular attention to certain industries. While textiles and natural resource-based industries garner considerable attention, pharmaceuticals is often overlooked. Yet few industries can match its significance, whether for economic development or often more importantly for curing illness, ameliorating pain and potentially saving lives. A recent workshop in Manchester brought together a group of researchers, from anthropology, economics, geography, history, medical anthropology, politics and sociology, to discuss and advance research on pharmaceuticals in the global South. read more…