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Past Event

A Global Economy and Development and Africa Growth Initiative Event

The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It

Africa, Global Poverty, Development, Developing Countries


Event Summary

While many countries have recently experienced rapid growth and improved living standards through the benefits of globalization, there remains a group of extremely poor nations that are mired in poverty. For these "bottom billion," as defined by Paul Collier, director of the Center for the Study of African Economics at Oxford University, traditional approaches to alleviating poverty have failed, and policymakers and development experts struggle to find new solutions to enable their growth and development.

Event Information

When

Tuesday, September 25, 2007
12:00 PM to

Where


The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Map

Contact: Brookings Office of Communications

E-mail: events@brookings.edu

Phone: 202.797.6105

On September 25, the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings hosted Collier, author of the new book The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It, to discuss why this group of small nations poses the central challenge to the developing world in the 21st century and to propose a plan for resolving it. Collier was joined by Lael Brainard, Vice President and Director of Global Economy and Development; Brookings Senior Fellow Charles Griffin; and Gobind Nankani, President of Global Development Network.

Transcript

LAEL BRAINARD: More than ever, there is this recognition that instability anywhere in the world can threaten security across borders and have repercussions in all kinds of realms that were not traditionally associated with poverty and security.

Poverty is an integral part of that picture. It is a catalyst. It exhausts institutions, depletes resources, and creates a volatile mix of desperation and instability, and what is so refreshing about Carl's Bottom Billion is that he has both very rigorous analysis of the causes of that poverty conflict cycle but also, I think, very realistic while also thought provoking answers to what we should be doing about it.

. . .I think I'll leave it to Paul to give his analysis of the four main tracks that condemn countries to extreme poverty and conflict and also to talk about his prescriptions. Perhaps the one which has been most noted is that of much more frequent interventions in governments, even when those interventions are military, to help create an environment of peace to build institutions. Whatever anyone's opinion of those options at a moment where the Presidential debate here is all around Iraq, you've got to admire the boldness of the analysis. So, we're particularly delighted to have Paul here to talk through his analysis and his proposals.

Participants

Introduction and Moderator

Lael Brainard

Vice President and Director, Global Economy and Development

Presenter

Paul Collier

Director, Center for the Study of African Economics, Oxford University

Panelists

Charles C. Griffin

Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development

Gobind Nankani

President, Global Development Network
Former Vice President for Africa, World Bank

Ann Tutwiler

Managing Director for Trade and Development, Hewlett Foundation


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