Channel: YaleUniversity

Category: Education

Tags: economicsafrican politicsclientelismpolitical economyeconomic developmentafrican school of economicsyaleglobal developmenteconomic growth centerelectionsdemocracysub-saharan africa

Description: Professor Leonard Wantchekon of Princeton University delivered the 31st Annual Kuznets Memorial Lecture, “Political Distortions and Economic Development” on March 31 2022, hosted by the Yale Economic Growth Center egc.yale.edu. He discussed recent research focusing on frictions induced by the political process which allow those in power to distort economic activities, influence public investments, and weaken market competition.   Wantchekon is the James Madison Professor of Political Economy and Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. He is also the Founder and President of the African School of Economics and the Pan African Scientific Research Council. Wantchekon's research centers on political economy, development economics and economic history with a regional focus on Africa.    As part of the 31st Kuznets programming, Prof. Wanchekon also organized a mini-conference spotlighting work of young economists focusing on research related to the political economy of development. Information on the conference and links to papers are available here: egc.yale.edu/events/kuznets/kuznets-31/conference