Integrating Refugees into the Polish Labor Economy

Guest blog by Piotr Arak, LEG’23

In successful businesses it is typical to try out new things and evaluate the outcome because you can earn more money if you find a better solution. Governments are not so different and public officials can use similar tools as the fishbone diagram or the 5-why approach to make their countries or communities more prosperous. This is what this 10-week course was for me.

I am part of a team responsible for designing the Social Inclusion Strategy for the Polish government. This strategy has become increasingly important in light of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the resulting influx of refugees to Poland since 2014, which has intensified even further since the start of the full-blown war on February 24th, 2022. I am interested in exploring ways in which refugees can contribute to Poland’s economic growth and become integrated into the country (in total there are about 3.5 million Ukrainians in the country, not all entered the country as refugees but as economic migrants).

Exploring Economic Complexity in South Africa

Guest blog by Yolanda Smit, LEG’23

Your problems are never what you think your problems are, and neither are your solutions. PDIA is helpful for problem identification and identifying the binding constraint but also as part of finding solutions. A key takeaway is that your problem is never what you think your problem is, and the solutions that may work are never the solutions you think of first. Being an interactive process where learning by doing happens gives the policy process a different feel – and creates a need for a different type of organisation – high bandwidth organisations 

When we are thinking about economic complexity, it is not only the current complexity but also how to diversify to add to economic complexity that is important. The impact of adding complexity takes time, and the fact that the process is exponential can either be encouraging or, if you have a low number of letters, very discouraging.

Going through an interactive process like this, identifying the key stakeholders and having the authority to act is only a starting point. Being able to fail in a way that does not hinder the legitimacy and support for the process should be part of planning and managing this process.

Regional Economic Development in Western Australia

Guest blog by Kristie Tonkin, LEG ’23

I have thoroughly enjoyed extending my thinking about how to lead economic growth in regional Western Australia through the 10 week course.  I have valued how the course extended my current knowledge, introduced topics new to me, provided a toolkit for future initiative development provided a range of international examples of the concepts discussed, and enabled the practical application of that knowledge through assignments and peer learning conversations.

Amongst the many learnings of the course, I will take forward the following concepts into my future work in regional development:

Exploring the Agility of Economic Initiatives in Azerbaijan

Guest blog by Vusal Shikhaliyev, LEG ’23

My journey with “Leading Economic Growth” program started with my strong aspiration to achieve my career goals. I have always deeply believed that strengthening my economic knowledge might facilitate the path to my career goals, which include becoming an expert in the design and evaluation of reform initiatives that lead to economic growth in the country. As such, I can contribute more effectively to the performance of the institution (the Commission on Business Environment and International Rankings) and to the welfare of my country.

Besides this, as the head of the Secretariat of the Commission on Business Environment and International Rankings of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I am a responsible person who participates in designing and monitoring the implementation of economic initiatives that focus on improving the business environment, thereby stimulating economic growth. I always look for innovative ideas and new approaches to further enhance the efficiency of the Secretariat and improve the proper coordination within the Commission.

Taking the aforementioned into account, the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program of Leading Economic Growth was a perfect fit for my professional experience, personal interests, and career goals.

Supporting Local Economic Development in Western Canada

Guest blog by Kevin Casmiro Moraes, LEG’23

As a transplant from a major urban center – Toronto – Prince Rupert was a culture shock. A small, northern community, located on an island just a 40-minute ferry ride from Alaska. This was a big change for a guy who spent his whole life in the big city, but I moved for an incredible opportunity working for one of Canada’s strategic trade corridors. As the 2^nd largest and fastest growing port in Canada, the Port of Prince Rupert plays a pivotal role in spurring economic growth and development for not just Western Canadian natural resource sectors by getting goods to international markets, but it also supports the vast manufacturing sectors in my home of Toronto and other major Eastern Canadian centers, by getting manufacturing inputs, such as auto parts, to assembly plants.

The vast importance of the port to Canada’s economic growth strategy is highlighted in numerous government strategic plans and policies, such as the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Government of Canada Budget 2023, British Columbia Economic Recovery Plan, Alberta Economic Corridors Plan, and much more. But the significant role the port plays in economic growth for national and regional economies is hindered by local variables that have been overlooked. The importance placed on national and provincial governments, as well as private sector firms has been the need to invest in supply chain infrastructure – port terminals, rail expansion, road infrastructure, digital and automation technology. However, as the port is in a small, northern community, local implications to everyday port operations has and will continue to have impacts to the ports ability to grow and continue to generate economic impacts for Canada.

As the head of government and external affairs for the Port of Prince Rupert, part of my role is to oversee strategic initiatives, in collaboration with external partners, that support local and regional economic development. This is meant to help the port improve its social license to operate and grow, but also mitigate and solve local issues that are impacting the port. With the impact of COVID-19, Canada has faced a significant labour crunch as immigration was halted and a large spike in retirements left vast economic sectors scrambling for available labour. Additionally, with the exodus of millennials from major urban centres during the pandemic to small, rural communities, home prices across Canada started to rise. Once the top recruitment tool for small communities, rural community homes are now the biggest deterrent to recruitment.

Exploring the Lack of Economic Diversity in Wyoming

Guest blog by Wendy Lopez, LEG’23

In 1885, my great-great-grandfather, with his wife and children, left Minnesota for the great territory of Wyoming. After a tough journey, they settled on Sage Creek, in the northwestern part of Wyoming, not far from what would become the town of Cody, only about 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park. His son later became somewhat well-known for his skills as a big-game hunter and outfitter, guiding many trips into some of the most remote spots in the country, including the famed Thorofare.

I grew up as a fifth-generation Wyomingite in the town of Cody, not very far from where my family first settled. I was raised on stories and lore of packtrips, ranching, good times, hard times, and pride for what it meant to have deep roots in the land and in the state. I attended the University of Wyoming, and then moved to Cheyenne where I have lived with my husband and raised our son. Both of my brothers still live in Cody and share the same sense of pride that I have.  Between the three of us, we have seven children. But, here is the twist – only one of those seven still lives in the state.

Wyoming’s low population and lack of economic diversity make it difficult to retain our youth. The rate of out-migration of young adults is the highest in the country. It’s also difficult to attract new business and knowhow. While there is an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, wide open spaces, and a very favorable tax-climate, it’s not enough to stimulate growth in Wyoming.

Apply for our Leading Economic Growth Executive Program!

We are offering Leading Economic Growth online again from October 2 – December 8^th 2023. Application deadline is September 20th, 2023.

Stimulating growth is the top economic priority for many countries and localities around the world. Yet many are trapped, lacking the productive capability to solve problems and expand to new industries to drive development. New growth strategies need paths, processes and organizations to address this problem.

Sophisticated Tools. Practical Approaches.

In this ten-week program, you will learn how to develop a set of policies and tools to define your growth problem, detect constraints to growth, and design solutions to unlock growth. Through peer learning groups and live class sessions, you will apply the frameworks and tools to your own economic growth challenge.

Leading Economic Growth: My Journey of Continuous Learning!

Guest blog by Christi Bell, LEG’23

Having spent my career as an economic development practitioner, I’ve taken many courses, have a certificate in economic development, and have worked well beyond 10,000 hours on complex challenges. The Harvard – Leading Economic Growth (LEG) class, reinvigorated by spirit, helped wash the rust from some tools and repackaged lessons and perspectives in a way that makes me wish I had another 30 years to practice this trade of economic development.

I was captured from the very first class and have many key takeaways. For starters, I’ve long considered the work of economic development complicated. At a dinner party, when asked what I do for a living, there is never a simple response, yet, the Harvard LEG class helped to reframe this work from complicated to complex in a way that I’d never considered previously. In the past, I’ve always described economic development as a puzzle, but never as a 3-dimensional puzzle with pieces moving as you’re building. I learned a new language and perhaps received permission to describe my work as complex, more like an 1804 journey than a drive across the US in 1984. The class helped me feel better about the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to economic growth and that perhaps economic stabilization might be better than growth or a starting point. I was reminded to be more curious, ask why questions, learn, adapt, and navigate according to the unique complexities and context of the place served.

Building The Wave

Written by Lant Pritchett

My main objective is to cross-post this Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) blog, Learning From What We Do and Doing What We Learn: What We Gain from a Solution-Search Approach to Building State Capacity by Susana Cordeiro Guerra, manager of Institutions for Development (IFD) at IDB.

But in doing so, would like to add a little of my own context. Two conversations, coming from very different angles, but with roughly the same message, stand out in deeply influencing how I think about change inside organizations. 

Visualizing the Problem in Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation

Guest blog by Pheakkdey Nguon

Often times, as a technical expert, I am brought into a situation to try to address a policy problem, for example, illegal deforestation and its associated trade. The expectation is to get to the solutions or to be at a place where feasible recommendations for moving forward toward solutions are identified, after a few hours to a few months of working on the problem (this in general means discussing potential solutions) with counterparts. In this work environment, we hardly go deep into understanding why the problem is the problem and for whom. The expectation is not to unpack or deconstruct the problem – the priority is to propose solutions that can be technical and/or political in nature. In fact, everyone is expected to come into the discussion room already with at least a comprehensive understanding of the problem, if not a list of solutions that they are eagerly ready to negotiate.