Abstract

Abstract

The definition of economic development has been a contentious issue, but the debate seems to have been settled recently, with most people operating with similar definitions – that of poverty reduction. In this lecture, Chang will argue that this definition neglects the fundamental importance of production in the economic development process. In this talk, Chang will propose a new perspective on economic development that tries to synthesise the more classic definition that emphasises production with more recent insights into technological learning and individual developments.

Biography

Ha-Joon Chang teaches economics at the University of Cambridge. In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters, he has published 15 authored books (four co-authored) and 10 edited books. His main books include The Political Economy of Industrial Policy, Kicking Away the Ladder, Bad Samaritans, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism, and Economics: The User’s Guide. His writings have been translated and published in 36 languages and 39 countries. Worldwide, his books have sold around 1.8 million copies. He is the winner of the 2003 Gunnar Myrdal Prize and the 2005 Wassily Leontief Prize. He was ranked no. 9 in the Prospect magazine’s World Thinkers 2014 poll.