Top experts discuss industrial policy in a post Washington Consensus world

Top economists will discuss industrial policies in Latin America and the Caribbean in a post Washington Consensus framework, at a seminar at the headquarters of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington.

Anemic economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is in need of a post-Washington-Consensus policy shot in the arm. Unfortunately, the ghost of industrial policy casts a shadow over all efforts because it has often done more harm than good.

The IDB’s new book “Rethinking Productive Development: Sound Policies and Institutions for Economic Transformation ” makes the case for productive development policies necessary to prosper while avoiding the mistakes of the past.

The book and the future of industrial policy will be discussed by a panel made up of Ricardo Haussmann of Harvard University, Dani Rodrik of the Institute for Advanced Study, Charles Sabel of Columbia University and Alberto Trejos of Costa Rica’s INCAE Business School.

The role of multilateral financial institutions will be discussed by Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank, Augusto de la Torre of the World Bank, Director of the Western Hemisphere Department for the IMF Alejandro Warner, and the IDB’s Division Chief for Competitiveness and Innovation, José Miguel Benavente.

WHO

Ricardo Hausmann (Harvard University)
Dani Rodrik (Institute for Advanced Study)
Charles Sabel (Columbia University)
Alberto Trejos (INCAE)
Augusto de la Torre (World Bank)
Alejandro Warner (IMF)
José Miguel Benavente (IDB)

WHEN

Tuesday, February 17
3:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE

1330 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20577
Conference Room CR2

The event is open to the public. Registration is open online. The event will be live webcast at www.livestream.com/idbevents1

For further information, please contact Mariela Semidey for more information at marielase@iadb.org.