Join Stefan Dercon as he presents his latest book, Gambling on Development: Why some countries win and others lose published in 2022. Drawing on his academic research as well as his policy experience across three decades and 40-odd countries, he will explore why some countries have managed to settle on elite bargains favoring growth and development, and others did not. His research interests concern what keeps some people and countries poor: the failures of markets, governments and politics, mainly in Africa, and how to achieve change.
Stefan Dercon is a Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government and the Economics Department, and a Fellow of Jesus College. He is also the Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies. He studied economics and philosophy at the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) and holds an MPhil and DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford. He has worked extensively as a policy advisor, providing strategic economic and development advice, and promoting the use of evidence in decision making, including as the Chief Economist of the UK Department of International Development (2011-2017). His research interests concern what keeps some people and countries poor: the failures of markets, governments and politics, mainly in Africa, and how to achieve change.
All students and faculty are welcome.
Click here to find out more about Professor Dercon
