Brookings: Topics - Sustainable Development

Foreign Policy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:23:32 GMT

The U.S. and the international community face great challenges in the 21st century—globalization offers more freedom and prosperity, but also new threats to our security. The Foreign Policy Studies scholars and research help policymakers and the public address these crucial issues.

Global Economy and Development

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:49:38 GMT

The U.S. Should Encourage Structural Transformation Strategies in Africa

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Treasury Neal Wolin's visit to three African nations demonstrates the commitment by the current administration to African development issues. Ernest Aryeetey urges Deputy Secretary Wolin to focus on sustainable development and encourage countries to establish frameworks for long-term growth.

President Obama and the Spirit of Global Development Partnership

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The key feature of President Obama's speech on September 22 at the Clinton Global Initiative was a call for a new spirit of global partnership, with respect to aiding the world's poor and countering transnational treats. Noam Unger discusses steps the U.S. government could take to advance global development efforts.

G-20 Summit: Recovering from the Crisis

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On September 24, President Obama will chair his first G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh. With the world economy improving, leaders will now focus their attention on economic recovery and restoring financial stability. Experts from Brookings Global Economy and Development program analyze top issues to be addressed at the summit and provide recommendations on how to effectively overcome global economic and governance challenges to ensure recovery now and to prevent future crises.

Four Ways to Help Africa?

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In response to a Wall Street Journal article by former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer, Brookings expert Mwangi Kimenyi urges that U.S. policy toward Africa should be defined by a sustainable agenda whose focus is economic development.

Climate Change and Vulnerable Societies

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kemal Derviş testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on America’s critical role in supporting climate change adaptation in the world’s most vulnerable communities. Derviş stressed that although global economies are facing serious financial challenges, time is of the essence to protect those most affected. He provided recommendations to enact globally acceptable and enforceable policies to tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Aid Coordination on the Ground: Are Joint Country Assistance Strategies the Answer?

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The dilemma of what to do about aid fragmentation remains a challenge. In a new working paper, Johannes Linn discusses comprehensive approaches to aid coordination and how joint country assistance strategies could be an effective strategy.

President Obama's Agenda Needs Greater Focus on Global Development

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although the Obama administration faces serious challenges at home and abroad, Homi Kharas, Johannes Linn and Noam Unger call for greater attention to the world's poor. The experts provide recommendations on how the Obama administration can begin to improve America's critical role in global development.

Latin America's Infrastructure: Roads to the Future

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

July 21, 2009, 9:00 AM to 12:20 PM

On July 21, the Latin America Initiative at Brookings and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) hosted a discussion of CAF’s recent report titled “Roads to the Future: Management of Infrastructure in Latin America.”

Effective Development Assistance Through Competition

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It is now generally accepted that development interventions can only be successful and sustainable if they are accepted by stakeholders and implemented in accordance with local institutions, culture and norms. In this policy brief, Clifford Zinnes, answering the demand for foreign aid alternatives, assesses a new class of "tournament" approaches that promise to improve on the lackluster performance of conventional methods.

Ghana: Obama Visits a Hopeful Nation on a Troubled Continent

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ghanaians welcomed President Obama’s visit in July, making it the only African stop after his European trip. Ghana, regarded as a “beacon of democracy” in Africa, still has room for growth with 40 percent of its people living in poverty. Richard Joseph argues that Ghana could lead a new wave of accelerated and sustainable development and that Obama's support could inspire a transformation across the continent.

G8 Africa Action Plan: Enhance Strategies for Development

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

African development has been a top agenda item at previous G8 Summits, including the creation of the Africa Action Plan and increased financial commitments to support economic growth. Although the continent has seen some progress, Mwangi Kimenyi argues that more should be done and provides specific strategies for more effective development.

Governance Matters VIII: Aggregate and Individual Governance Indicators, 1996-2008

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay and Massimo Mastruzzi release Governance Matters VIII: Governance Indicators for 1996-2008. By updating the Worldwide Governance Indicators, the authors measure institutional quality, governance and the investment climate across 212 countries worldwide to show that good governance has a strong, positive impact on development.

Governance Matters 2009: Learning From Over a Decade of the Worldwide Governance Indicators

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Policy analysts, civil society groups and aid donors agree that good governance is critical for sustainable economic development. Yet, improving governance and fighting corruption is not always a priority, highlighting serious challenges in global economics. Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay and Massimo Mastruzzi, authors of Governance Matters VIII and the updated Worldwide Governance Indicators, analyze evidence from 212 countries that shows good governance has a strong, positive impact on development.

The G8 and Beyond: The Economics and Politics of a Global Century?

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 21, 2009, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
June 22, 2009, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

On June 21 and 22, the Italian Foreign Ministry held a conference in partnership with the Brookings Institution, Aspen Italia, Club de Madrid, Link Campus University – Sage, and Centro di Eccellenza Jean Monnet – Fondazione Economia Tor Vergata. The goal of the conference was two-fold: to generate ideas that transcend the tyranny of the urgent and could help inform preparations for the Italy-hosted G8 Summit in July 2009; and to generate debate and discussion on longer-term efforts to reform the international system.

Budget 2010: Sustainability and Quality Places

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Bradley argues that sustainable growth strengthens existing cities and communities, conserves fiscal and natural resources, and advances U.S. efforts to address climate change and achieve energy independence—a central theme of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program’s Blueprint for American Prosperity

A Case Study of Aid Effectiveness in Ethiopia

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

International aid has significantly impacted Ethiopia's development initiatives since the end of World War II, and Ethiopia has been a major recipient of foreign aid in recent times. Project consultant Getnet Alemu examines the country’s aid flows—predominantly assisting Ethiopia's health sector—and argues that although aid has been instrumental in the country's development, donor coordination has been challenging.

Latin America's Challenges Beyond the Global Crisis

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 24, 2009, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

On April 24, the Brookings Institution and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) hosted a discussion on the present and future impact of the financial crisis on Latin America.

Making Transportation Sustainable: Insights from Germany

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To help improve the energy efficiency and overall environmental sustainability of the U.S. transportation system, we will need to adopt policies that foster changes in the way Americans travel. In a new report Brookings researchers find that Germany may offer valuable lessons. Like the United States, Germany is a federal republic but it has taken impressive steps to improve transportation options, link transportation planning to land use, and advance other reforms – all while empowering metropolitan action.

Pikes Peak as “Megapolitan” Space: A Federal Agenda for Prosperity in the Colorado Springs Metro Area

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This year's State of the Rockies Symposium at Colorado College focuses on megapolitan areas—combinations of two or more regions into a single economic, social, and urban system. Amy Liu and Mark Muro of the Metro Program, and Robert Lang of Virginia Tech, delivered keynote addresses on how the Pike’s Peak region can leverage the federal role to help it better connect to Denver and the rest of the Front Range “mega" and boost its prosperity.

Sustainability and Quality Places

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Bradley argues that sustainable growth strengthens our existing metropolitan areas, conserves fiscal and natural resources and advances our nation’s efforts to address climate change and find alternative sources of energy. She notes how President Obama's first budget advances some of these goals.

The Financial Crisis, a Development Emergency, and the Need for Aid

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Affected by the financial crisis, the world’s poorest countries are facing a development emergency. Cutbacks in foreign aid and devalued currencies are wiping out aid contributions that supply the world’s poor with basic necessities—food, education, and healthcare. Billions of aid dollars are sitting in Washington, ready for disbursement but hindered by bureaucracy. Homi Kharas outlines steps to accelerate the disbursement of this aid so that poor countries can receive the help they need.

Plug-In Electric Vehicles : What Role for Washington?

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This important book examines the role that the U.S. government can and should play in promoting the widespread use of plug-in electric vehicles.

Energy Discovery-Innovation Institutes: A Step toward America's Energy Sustainability

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

America’s economic revitalization and future energy security compel the transformation of U.S. energy policy. To push innovation to the center of national reform, this Blueprint for American Prosperity report argues that the federal government should establish a national network of regionally-based energy discovery-innovation institutes (e-DIIs) to serve as the hubs of a decentralized, commercialization-oriented research network.

A Case Study of Aid Effectiveness in Kenya

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Because foreign aid to Kenya is highly volatile and fragmented, efforts are being made to coordinate and harmonize aid allocations. Project consultant Francis M. Mwega analyzes these efforts and focuses on the health sector to compare and contrast trends and experiences. This case study highlights the innovations and competencies that have developed over time to respond to the challenges in development aid.

Aid Effectiveness in Cambodia

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cambodia received over $5 billion in development assistance within the past decade, yet the country faces unpredictable donor flows and duplication of technical cooperation and funding for more than 400 donor missions. Ek Chanboreth and Sok Hach from the Economic Institute of Cambodia analyze these challenges and the government’s actions to strengthen aid coordination and management systems—most notably by developing an online database to better coordinate official development assistance.

Regional Cooperation in Central Asia: Another Step Forward with CAREC

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Johannes Linn outlines the 7^th Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC), which approved strategies for greater technical, operational, and financial solutions to the region. Operating since 2002, CAREC now needs to focus on these solutions to bring about sustainable development, improved infrastructure and institutional capacity of Central Asian countries, which is home to 120 million inhabitants.

More Excuses from Donors at Doha

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The recent Doha Financing for Development Conference reviewed promises to increase the volume and quality of aid; yet, with the global financial industry in meltdown, aid to developing countries is expected to fall. Raj Desai and Homi Kharas argue that volatility in aid disbursements can send poor countries spinning into recession that then needs far more aid to reverse in the future.

Early Child Development for the Developing World

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 04, 2008, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

On December 4, 2008, the Wolfensohn Center for Development, in cooperation with the Committee for Economic Development, held a conference to raise awareness of early child development in the developing world and to foster support from the North American business community. Business leaders, international early child development experts, and public policy stakeholders developed strategies to increase private sector support for early child developing in developing countries.

A Call to Action for Global Early Child Development

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 04, 2008, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

On December 4, the Wolfensohn Center for Development at Brookings and the Committee for Economic Development hosted a discussion on the importance of early child development and its impact on sustainable economic development in the developing world.

Post-Tsunami Aid Effectiveness in Aceh: Proliferation and Coordination in Reconstruction

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On December 26, 2004, an earthquake followed by a devastating tsunami killed more than 150,000 people and displaced an estimated 700,000 inhabitants in Aceh, Indonesia. With unprecedented damage to the region, Aceh received an influx of aid and assistance—the largest reconstruction program in the developing world at the time. Project consultants Harry Masyrafah and Jock MJA McKeon analyze the aid effectiveness by examining the international community’s response to the disaster, challenges in reconstruction, and coordination of the aid agencies involved.

Better Aid: Responding to Gaps in Effectiveness

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite increasing aid volume and ministerial promises and commitments, there are gaps in the effectiveness of development aid. Using a two-pronged approach, Homi Kharas and Johannes Linn analyze these gaps and provide useful recommendations so that the aid architecture can be strengthened, aid flows coordinated and development sustainable—ultimately making aid better.

Scaling Up: A Framework and Lessons for Development Effectiveness from Literature and Practice

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Scaling up—expanding, adapting, and sustaining successful projects, programs, or policies over time—can substantially reduce poverty. To improve the effectiveness of development programs, Arntraud Hartmann and Johannes Linn outline the key aspects that allow for scaling up to occur. This framework includes the implementation phases of development interventions—monitoring, evaluating, planning and effective management. Hartmann and Linn also reflect on lessons learned, case studies, and implications for aid and aid donors.

Accelerating the Creation of Enterprise Societies: A New Nigerian Mindset

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Speaking at the 14^th Nigerian Economic Summit, Richard Joseph reflects on governance and institutional capacity building in Nigeria, with respect to how Nigeria can confront its economic challenges and move to sustained growth.

Transformation and High Sustained Growth: Governance and Public Service in Nigeria

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Speaking at the 14th Nigerian Economic Summit, Richard Joseph reflects on governance and public service in Nigeria, with respect to how Nigeria can maximize its economic potential.

Scaling Up Through Aid: The Real Challenge

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Scaling up—expanding, adapting, and sustaining successful projects, programs, or policies over time—can substantially reduce poverty. Johannes Linn and Arntraud Hartmann outline the actions that bilateral and multilateral donors and private aid agencies need to take in order to support scaling up for effective, sustainable development.

Top 10 Global Economic Challenges Facing America's 44th President

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As President-Elect Obama prepares to lead the United States, what are the top global economic challenges facing the new president and his advisors and how should the new administration address them? A new report by Brookings global economic and development experts ranks the top 10 issues and details specific ideas for how to tackle the toughest challenges.

The California Consensus: Can Private Aid End Global Poverty?

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The rise of private aid donors—foundations, NGOs, corporations, and individuals—is changing the landscape of development assistance. As private aid has doubled within the past decade, the developing world welcomes these new players, and Raj Desai and Homi Kharas argue that they have the potential to be more effective in ending global poverty than the traditional bilateral and multilateral aid agencies.

Corporate Action on Climate Adaptation and Development

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The 2008 Brookings Blum Roundtable recently convened representatives to focus on how the poor of the world will cope with climate change. With a few notable exceptions, the climate adaptation challenge, and the links between climate change, economic growth, human rights, and poverty alleviation, has not been high on the corporate agenda. Jane Nelson, an expert in corporate social responsibility, recommends the corporate community take action to address climate change adaptation in the developing world.

Measuring the Cost of Aid Volatility

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Aid volatility, caused by various reasons including shifts in the donor’s economic and political landscape, can negatively affect development growth. Homi Kharas measures the cost of aid volatility using a financial metric, which if used by policymakers, can create a better system of aid flows and effective development. At times, recipient countries can incur negative income shocks, and Kharas calculates that in recent years about 16 billion USD in development assistance has been lost to aid volatility.

Middle East’s Economic Paradox

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

According to a recent study by the Middle East Youth Initiative, the region loses $25 billion a year due to youth unemployment. Navtej Dhillon, MEYI Director/Fellow, Jad Chaaban, Assistant Professor at American University of Beirut, and Tarik Yousef, Brookings Senior Fellow and Dean of the Dubai School of Government, discuss country statistics and regional policy implications.

MetroPolicy: Shaping a New Federal Partnership for a Metropolitan Nation

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To unleash greater local and national prosperity U.S. metropolitan leaders need to be better equipped to deal with today’s increasingly dynamic economic, social and environmental realities. This report calls for a new federal-state-metro partnership that provides metropolitan actors the support, capacity, tools and discretion they need to resolve key challenges; grow in more productive, inclusive, and sustainable ways; and, ultimately, to maximize America’s overall prosperity.

Spotlight on Mexico: Sustained Economic Growth and Development Through Good Governance

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 03, 2008, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

On June 3, the Transparency and Accountability Project convened two policy roundtables focused on ongoing efforts to improve competitiveness and facilitate access to information in Mexico. It was an opportunity for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to discuss these issues and debate possible interventions that could be made at the domestic and international level to help catalyze these reforms.

Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of Metropolitan America

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings released a report that ranks the carbon footprint of the nation’s top 100 metropolitan areas. For the first time, the report quantifies a metropolitan area’s carbon footprint based upon carbon emissions from highway transportation and residential energy consumption and lists metropolitan areas by total metric tons of carbon emissions per capita in 2005. The report offers recommendations on how the federal government should step up its support of metropolitan efforts to shrink their carbon footprints.

Inflation Amidst Recession: Policy Prescriptions for Sustaining Stable Growth

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In response to the burst in global inflation, Wing Thye Woo provides policy recommendations on how to manage the emerging stagflation and produce sustained and stable economic growth.

Rising Food Prices: a Global Crisis

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Rising food prices partly reflect the spillover from high energy costs, and are causing major problems for poor people. Homi Kharas argues for more development assistance for agriculture production to increase food supplies in the long run as well as for more assistance for sustainable development projects to create jobs and higher wages so that poor people can afford the rising costs of food.

U.S. Foreign Assistance: Advancing National Security, Interests, and Values

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As the world faces security threats from impoverished states, the global community searches for solutions to poverty. Lael Brainard offers Congress recommendations for modernizing the U.S. aid infrastructure.

Business Champions for Early Child Development

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 22, 2008, 5:30 PM to
April 23, 2008, 3:00 PM to

On April 23, 2008, the Wolfensohn Center for Development, in cooperation with the Committee for Economic Development, held an International Early Child Development Conference in The Hague, The Netherlands. The conference focused on raising awareness of early child development in emerging markets and developing countries and fostering support from the European business community.

India: The Crisis in Rural Health Care

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Arvind Panagariya discusses the degraded state of India's health care system and how it is affecting the nation's poor.

U.S. Foreign Assistance: Reinventing Aid for the 21st Century

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a world facing 21^st century threats from global poverty, pandemics, and terrorism, foreign aid has assumed renewed importance as a critical instrument for advancing American values, interests, and national security. Lael Brainard offers Congress recommendations for urgent reform since U.S. foreign aid policy has become incoherent and its implementation fragmented.

CAREC: A Coming Force in Regional Affairs?

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 08, 2008, 12:00 PM to 12:00

At a recent event, Brookings Scholar Johannes Linn provided insight on CAREC’s efforts to bring together eight countries and six multilateral institutions to achieve accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction .

On the Right Track? Iran Edges toward Education Reform

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

With Iran's recent move to adopt into law the guidelines to eliminate the national university entrance examinations, Brookings Scholar Djavad Salehi-Isfahani discusses the importance of educational testing and the historical significance of this large exam.

Beyond Assistance: Report of the HELP Commission on Foreign Aid Reform

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 10, 2007, 1:00 PM to 4:00 pm

On December 10, the Global Economy and Development program hosted the HELP Commission for the official release of its report on foreign aid reform, Beyond Assistance. Mary Bush, chair of the HELP Commission, announced the commission’s recommendations during remarks. Additional commissioners discussed their views on reform priorities and next steps. The second panel of independent experts led by Lael Brainard, vice president and director of Global Economy and Development, offered analysis of the HELP Commission’s report and discuss steps to move reform forward.

The Political Economy of Poverty Reduction

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Antipoverty programs can significantly increase developing countries' incomes by means of "scaling up" small-scale programs Raj Desai, Brookings Visiting Fellow at the Wolfensohn Center for Development, explains. Desai provides insight as to how small development programs can expand over time and across geography while overcoming political and institutional challenges.

Youth Exclusion in Iran: The State of Education, Employment and Family Formation

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Iran’s large youth population has led to overcrowding in schools, gender imbalance in the marriage market and increased pressure on the nation’s rigid formal labor market. By focusing on three crucial transitions, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani and Daniel Egel analyze the challenges facing youth in Iran and opportunities for the country to tap into its demographic dividend.

Pakistan: Still Growing, at 60

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Moeed Yusuf, Indian Express (8/14/07)

Africa's Economic Successes: What's Worked and What's Next

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

August 02, 2007, 12:00 PM to 12:00

The 2007 Brookings Blum Roundtable featured an informal evening keynote discussion on Africa’s recent period of unprecedented economic growth. Focusing on the continent’s economic success stories, African Development Bank president Donald Kaberuka and former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala offered fellow participants insight into what’s working and what reforms must be made if the continent is to continue on its pro-growth course.

Development's Changing Face: New Players, Old Challenges, Fresh Opportunities

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

August 01, 2007 at 12:00 AM

On August 1-3, 2007, the Brookings Blum Roundtable gathered representatives reflective of this dynamic landscape to discuss these trends. Through robust discussion and continuing cross-sector partnerships, the conference hopes to foster lasting and widespread improvements in this new field of development.

The New Reality of Aid

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Foreign Assistance: Reform Now for Smart Power

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It would be an enormous shame to abandon the focus on foreign assistance reform as the administration's specific proposals come under fire. A glance at the many agencies involved in pursuing the dizzying array of objectives embodied in U.S. foreign assistance should convince even the most diehard skeptic we have a problem.

Europeans Must Lead on Global Governance Reform in Replacing the Head of the IMF

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Johannes F. Linn and Colin I. Bradford, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (7/13/07)

Global Trade Talks: The Doha Disaster

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Paul Blustein, The Brookings Institution (07/09/07)

Central Asia: The Core of the Eurasian Super-Continent

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview by Johannes F. Linn, neweurasia (07/02/07)

Why We Need the World Bank

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Colin I. Bradford, The Guardian Unlimited (7/2/07)

Scaling Up Poverty Reduction in China: Progress, Impact, and Lessons for Developing Countries

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 20, 2007, 12:00 PM to 12:00

On June 20, 2007 the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) together with the Wolfensohn Center for Development at the Brookings Institution, held a workshop entitled "Scaling Up Poverty Reduction in China: Progress, Impact, and Lessons for Developing Countries." The purpose of the workshop was to provide an informal forum for Chinese policymakers, researchers, and representatives of international organizations to exchange views, experiences, and the results of their work.

Foreign Assistance Reform: Successes, Failures, and Next Steps

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Lael Brainard before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (6/12/07)

Toward a New Poverty and Development Agenda: Contribution of the INGO Community

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

May 30, 2007 at 12:00 AM

Krankenkassen fur die Armsten

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by David de Ferranti, Frankfurter Rundschau (5/20/07)

New Avenues of Access to World Markets for Poor Producers

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 17, 2007 at 12:00 AM

Beyond Microfinance: Getting Capital to Small and Medium Enterprises to Fuel Faster Development

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

David de Ferranti and Anthony J. Ody explain why the time has come to pay greater attention to the potential of small and medium-sized commercial firms to promote economic growth.

The Wedding Shortage

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Marriage, long the centerpiece of Middle Eastern life, is in crisis. The reason: a new generation of young men cannot afford to marry--a fact that's destined to exacerbate many of the region's social and political problems.

A Harmonious Socialist Society or Bust: China's Quest for Sustainable Development

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The 6th Plenum of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded on October 11, 2006 with the passage of a resolution to establish a harmonious society by 2020. The obvious implication from this commitment is that the present major social, economic and political trends within China might not lead to a harmonious society or, at least, not lead to a harmonious society fast enough.

Reducing Urban Violence in Developing Countries

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Urban violence is a serious development constraint in developing countries and increasingly dominates the daily lives of citizens across the globe. The accompanying increase in fear and insecurity has led to a wide-scale preoccupation with the phenomenon.

Asset-Based Approaches to Poverty Reduction in a Globalized Context

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

This working paper provides a brief introduction to asset-based approaches to poverty reduction in a globalized context. The aim is to show the added value of asset-based approaches, in terms of both better understanding poverty and developing more appropriate long-term poverty reduction solutions.

Executive Recommendations by the Brookings-CSIS Task Force for Transforming Foreign Assistance for the 21st Century

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

With hard power assets stretched thin and confronting unprecedented global challenges of transnational threats, poverty, and pandemics, America must reform its weak aid infrastructure to leverage its soft power more effectively. Lael Brainard discusses how reform requires integrating the national security perspective of foreign assistance as a “soft power” tool intended to achieve diplomatic and strategic ends with that of a “development tool” allocated according to policy effectiveness and human needs.

The Tangled Web: The Poverty-Insecurity Nexus

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

August 02, 2006 at 12:00 AM
August 04, 2006 at 12:00 AM

Poverty is both a cause of insecurity and a product of it. To explore this tangled web, in August 2006, the Brookings Blum Roundtable discussed the challenges and possible solutions with a diverse group of leaders, including policymakers, business executives and academics, and developed recommendations for change.

The Illusion of Sustainability

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

We use a randomized evaluation of a deworming program in Kenya to examine peer effects in technology adoption and to shed light on foreign aid donors' movement towards helping communities sustainably provide local public goods. Deworming is a public good, since much of the social benefit of worm treatment comes through reduced disease transmission. People were less likely to take deworming drugs if their direct first-order social contacts or indirect secondorder contacts were randomly exposed to deworming. Several efforts to replace subsidies with sustainable worm control measures were ineffective: a drug cost-recovery program reduced takeup by 80%; health education did not affect behavior, and a mobilization intervention designed to boost drug take-up failed. At least in this context, it appears unrealistic for donors to think that a one-time intervention can lead to the sustainable voluntary provision of local public goods.

Security by Other Means : Foreign Assistance, Global Poverty, and American Leadership

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Drawing on expertise from the full range of agencies whose policies affect foreign aid, Security by Other Means examines foreign assistance across four categories reflecting the interests that aid furthers: security, economic, humanitarian, and polit

Restructuring USAID

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Lael Brainard, Carol Lancaster, and William Reese, The Kojo Nnamdi Show (1/30/06)

Towards a Competitive and Sustainable Maine

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Presentation by Bruce Katz at the Grow Smart Maine Summit, October 2005

In this speech launching the Metropolitan Policy Program's Maine Initiative, Bruce Katz examines the broad forces reshaping the American economy, what they mean for Maine, and the yearlong scope of work that hopes to identify the path to a competitive, prosperous, and sustainable future for the state.

U.S. Foreign Assistance After September 11th: Major Changes, Competing Purposes and Different Standards - Is There an Overall Strategy?

Thu, 26 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by Lael Brainard, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations (2/26/04)

Managing Financial and Corporate Distress : Lessons from Asia

Sun, 06 Aug 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Managing Financial and Corporate Distress: Lessons from Asia, stands out from other works on the East Asian crisis by moving beyond macroeconomic assessments to offer an institutional treatment of the microeconomic aspects of the corporate and

Mexico : The Remaking of an Economy, Second Edition

Tue, 01 Sep 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Nora Lustig updates the original book and analyzes the possible explanations for Mexico's relative slow growth in the early nineties and the causes of the peso crisis at the end of 1994.

Blended Rationality and Democracy: An Elusive Synthesis for Environmental Policy Reform

Tue, 01 Sep 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Christopher H. Foreman, Jr., in Science Communication, September 1998

Sustainable Development : OECD Policy Approaches for the 21st Century

Tue, 01 Jul 1997 00:00:00 GMT

This publication provides an overview and analysis of sustainability trends and identifies policy gaps and trade-offs that have been encountered and points to future options. The authors document positive trends which have emerged signaling greater s

Brookings Papers on Economic Activity 1996:2, Macroeconomics

Mon, 27 Jan 1997 00:00:00 GMT

For almost thirty years, Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (BPEA) has provided academic and business economists, government officials, and members of the financial and business communities with timely research of current economic issues.

The Chilean Economy : Policy Lessons and Challenges

Tue, 15 Mar 1994 00:00:00 GMT

The advent in the 1990s of Chile as a model for economic reform is something of a surprise. Though many of the reforms were actually introduced in the 1970s, many seemed to have failed until recently. In this book, international scholars review the r