Harvard University homepage
HARVARD.EDU

Category: Economic Growth

Posts relating to economic growth

Decorative image of tools

Diagnosing Nigeria’s Growth Constraints

  • Publication date February 9, 2026
Lagos, Nigeria

Guest blog by Adamu Mathias, LEG ’25 Over the weeks, this course has reshaped not only how I approach complex national/regional/local or organizational challenges but also how I think about their development, especially Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to diversify, grow sustainably, and build systems that work. As someone deeply involved in leadership, energy, and development spaces, I found PDIA to be more…Continue Reading Diagnosing Nigeria’s Growth Constraints

Reversing New Mexico’s Brain Drain Through Economic Diversification

  • Publication date February 6, 2026
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Guest blog by Rita Gaurin, LEG ’25 Over the past ten weeks, I’ve immersed myself in understanding one of New Mexico’s most pressing challenges: the persistent out-migration of our educated workforce and the struggle to diversify our economy beyond extractive industries. This journey has fundamentally shifted how I think about economic development, moving me from viewing problems…Continue Reading Reversing New Mexico’s Brain Drain Through Economic Diversification

Phosphate Decarbonization as a Catalyst for Growth in Morocco

  • Publication date February 2, 2026
Plants growing in a field

Guest blog by Soumaya Benzennou, LEG ’25 When I began this course, I thought my challenge was technical: how can a hard-to-abate sector like phosphates decarbonize? But over the ten weeks, something shifted. The more we learned about growth, complexity and inclusion, the more I realized that my real challenge was not about emissions. It was about people, incentives, institutions,…Continue Reading Phosphate Decarbonization as a Catalyst for Growth in Morocco

Digital Financial Inclusion in India: The Gender Gap Challenge 

  • Publication date January 22, 2026
Hands holding rupees

Guest blog by Richa Mukherjee, IPP ’25 After practicing public policy as a professional for 15 years, I decided to pursue it more formally as a subject from the Harvard Kennedy School’s IPP Class of 2025. This turned out to be a very insightful and an experience full of learning. The learning journey at HKS gave me comprehensive insights into addressing…Continue Reading Digital Financial Inclusion in India: The Gender Gap Challenge 

Scrabble, Fishbones, and Positive Deviance: A Perspective from New Zealand

  • Publication date February 24, 2025
Auckland, New Zealand waterfront at dusk

Guest blog by Mark Lea, LEG ’24 I have really enjoyed participating in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Leading Economic Growth 2024 programme, led by Professors Ricardo Hausmann and Matt Andrews, and supported by their wider faculty team. Both Professors shared the theories, tools and frameworks they have developed to help us think about our economic…Continue Reading Scrabble, Fishbones, and Positive Deviance: A Perspective from New Zealand

Agricultural Reform in Karabakh

  • Publication date February 10, 2025
Wheat harvest at sunset

Guest blog by Vahid Hajiyev, LEG ’24   One of the most important lessons from this course is that addressing complex growth challenges requires a problem-driven approach. Tools such as the Toyota “6 Whys” and the fishbone diagram were particularly useful in helping me understand the underlying causes and identify binding constraints. These tools taught me…Continue Reading Agricultural Reform in Karabakh

Diversification and Rise of Exports for Acceleration of Economic Growth in Azerbaijan 

  • Publication date February 3, 2025
Port in Baku, Azerbaijan

Guest blog by Jalal Baghishov, LEG ’24 The Leading Economic Growth course helped me understand the complex and dynamic nature of economic growth, and how to develop effective strategies to drive growth in today’s knowledge-driven world. I found almost all covered areas, including the connection between knowledge, growth, and complexity, rethinking growth strategy, PDIA approach,…Continue Reading Diversification and Rise of Exports for Acceleration of Economic Growth in Azerbaijan 

Economic Diversification through the Agriculture and Food Sector

  • Publication date January 27, 2025
Harvester in wheat field

Guest blog by Woody Ang, LEG ’24 First, some context. I have spent the good part of the past decade supporting various countries in the developing world on their economic challenges. In many ways, the approach I have adopted has been one of attempting indigenous solutions which promoted pragmatic problem-solving anchored on pilot projects, rather…Continue Reading Economic Diversification through the Agriculture and Food Sector

Bridging Gaps by Unlocking Potential: The Case of Northern Córdoba

  • Publication date January 20, 2025
San Martin Square in Cordoba Argentina

Guest blog by Andrés Michel, LEG ’24   Understanding Córdoba’s Regional Disparities  The province of Córdoba is located in the heart of Argentina. It spans an area of 165,000 square kilometers and is home to nearly 4 million people. Córdoba stands out for its exceptionally fertile lands, contributing almost 30% of the nation’s soybean and…Continue Reading Bridging Gaps by Unlocking Potential: The Case of Northern Córdoba

Sustained and Inclusive Economic Growth and Governance in Colombia

  • Publication date January 13, 2025
Bridge in Andes mountain in Colombia

Guest blog by Ernesto Correa Valderrama, LEG ’24  In Colombia, armed conflict, poverty, illicit crops and, although it may seem strange, even deforestation are located where there are no good quality roads.  That was the basis on which the Transport Infrastructure Program Roads for Equity1 was structured and awarded transparently in 2015 for more than…Continue Reading Sustained and Inclusive Economic Growth and Governance in Colombia