Economic Growth – Building State Capability

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

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

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

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

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

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

Charting a Path to Economic Mobility: From Braven’s Mission to Puerto Rico’s Potential

Publication date January 6, 2025

Guest blog by Jonathan Chaparro, LEG ’24 As I reflect on my career, one theme has continually fueled my passion: the belief in the transformative power of philanthropy to create meaningful, lasting change. Over the years, this belief has guided my work at Braven, where I’ve had the privilege of advancing our mission to empower…Continue Reading Charting a Path to Economic Mobility: From Braven’s Mission to Puerto Rico’s Potential

Strategic Policymaking in Azerbaijan

Publication date August 2, 2024

Guest blog by Nuru Suleymanov, LEG ’23 I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to participate in this unique course, during which leading scholars and practitioners Professor Matt Andrews and Professor Ricardo Hausmann, as well as other members of the Harvard Kennedy School team, shared with us their valuable experience, knowledge and insights in…Continue Reading Strategic Policymaking in Azerbaijan

Informal Employment in Azerbaijan as an Impediment to Economic Growth

Publication date July 15, 2024

Workers cleaning the ground in Azerbaijan

Guest blog by Nijat Rahmanli, LEG ’23 Throughout my career in the government, I have participated in numerous discussions and workshops on how to achieve economic growth while ensuring inclusivity and sustainability. However, few of them were as practical and down-to-earth as the course on Leading Economic Growth. We came to understand that the easiest part…Continue Reading Informal Employment in Azerbaijan as an Impediment to Economic Growth

Analyzing Brazil’s Position in Semi-Conductor Supply Chain using PDIA

Publication date July 5, 2024

Guest blog by Loureiro Fernando, LEG ’23 To be able to reflect on PDIA concept and process, to put these concepts in a process-oriented approach, gave me a great insight to help me prepare and propose my interactions with government and policy makers with whom I engage in Latin America and Africa. I was involved…Continue Reading Analyzing Brazil’s Position in Semi-Conductor Supply Chain using PDIA