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Lant Pritchett is a development economist from Idaho. He graduated from BYU in 1983 and received his PhD in Economics from MIT in 1988. He worked for the World Bank from 1988 to 2007, living in Indonesia 1998-2000 and India 2004-2007. He taught at the Harvard Kennedy School from 2000 to 2019, and was, intermittently, the Faculty Chair of the MPA/ID Degree program. From 2018 to 2023 he was the Research Director of the RISE Programme at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government. Having now thrice retired, he is now a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics in the School of Public Policy and the co-founder and Research Director of Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP). He has published over a hundred works with over fifty co-authors and his work spans a wide range of development topics including: economic growth, state capability, education, labor mobility, development assistance (and more). His work has been, at times, influential, and his publications have been cited over 48,000 times.
I recently gave ten one-hour lectures at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in bountiful summer-ripe Lusaka. The lecture series was planned in collaboration with the Center for Urban Planning and
In today’s episode of Charter Cities, we’re honored to welcome Lant Pritchett, a distinguished economist and a thought leader in development economics. Our deep-dive conversation will focus on the critical topic of growth diagnostics, exploring the complex challenges policymakers face in developing nations. Lant will illuminate the importance of identifying impactful actions for growth, emphasizing the need for rigorous debate and evidence-based decision-making. We’ll also scrutinize the limitations of traditional development metrics like the “dollar a day” measure and consider alternative, more effective approaches. We’ll also investigate innovative solutions like charter cities as a mechanism for fostering sustainable growth by addressing institutional challenges.
On today’s Charter Cities podcast episode, host Jeffrey Mason is joined by colleagues Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney to unpack the New Africa’s Bad Urban Laws project. This initiative dissects laws in African cities hindering growth and community well-being. Additionally, Jeffrey reminds listeners of the upcoming Africa’s New City Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The team dives deep, discussing the reasons for and effects of detrimental urban laws, using instances like Zambia’s land ownership as an example. Tune in for an insightful discussion on urban policies in Africa.
CCI is excited to announce a series of two webinars as part of our efforts to contribute to the global conversation on the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid urbanization
Urban infrastructure in major cities is inadequate to support pedestrian mobility. In Zambia, for example, the majority of citizens rely on walking for their daily travel, but unfortunately, sidewalks are often inaccessible or non-existent, and urban expansion makes travel time longer. To help address this issue, CCI, in collaboration with key stakeholders, conducted a participatory research project called ‘Walking the Un-walkable’. The project aimed to map and address walkability in Lusaka, identifying the challenges pedestrians face while walking and highlighting opportunities for improvement. The findings and recommendations were mapped using methods including participatory policy-making, transect walking/mapping, co-design, and validation workshops. This report outlines the findings identified in the walks and the verification workshop conducted with key stakeholders. With cities like Lusaka continuing to grow rapidly, it is crucial to understand how infrastructure and urban form can effectively meet the needs of urban residents.
Coming up on today’s episode of Charter Cities, we have a very special guest joining host Mark Lutter: Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of community building and the importance of creating meaningful connections within cities and online communities. We explore the challenges and successes of building communities in different contexts, from crypto communities to health tribes. With insights from Vitalik’s own experiences and observations, we discuss the value of diversity, the impact of infrastructure on small towns, and the need for community filters. Stay tuned for an enriching conversation on the power of communities in shaping our lives and the future of cities.
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