Overseas Development Institute - Theme: Economic Growth

ODI Publications - Working Paper - A 'new' approach to global value chain analysis

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:00:00 PDT

This paper uses new trade/new growth theories to better contextualise Global Value Chain (GVC) analysis of âtraditionalâ and ânon-traditionalâ agricultural trade. Research suggests that GVC governance structures may limit or enhance the applicability of new trade/new growth theories in terms of âlearning by doingâ; and therefore the ability to value chain upgrade. This paper tries to bridge the current divergence between input:output and value distribution approaches to GVC analysis. The case is made that both aspects are central to understanding upgrading processes within agricultural GVCs and growth through trade.

ODI Online - Blog - Amor Serrano

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:23:00 PDT

Evo Morales has jumped over yet another hurdle this weekend. He has managed to secure a new vote of confidence from among the social movements and grassroots that constitute the loose coalition that is his political platform. This backing is what he needs to further advance his drive to transform Bolivia into a socialist state. But this is also an unfortunate step further into a vicious cycle of ideological polarisation from which, Latin American history says, one can only leave through violence...

ODI in the media - Research for Development: Dirk Willem te Velde's work with the Research Programme Consortium on Improving Institutions for Pro-Poor Growth is profiled on DFID's R4D site.

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Online - Blog - Is the WTO no-deal a big deal?

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:44:00 PDT

The trade talks have collapsed over the issue of Special Safeguard Measures (or SSMs) in agriculture. This was not even among the hottest negotiating issues. This suggests that the talks could (and probably would) have collapsed over any other (more controversial) issues. The bottom line is that the (real) interest for a far-reaching agreement to liberalise multilateral trade regimes has quickly been vanishing in the face of faltering global economy....(

ODI Online - Blog - Collapse of the WTO trade talks: A pity, and potentially a problem, but not a disaster

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:19:00 PDT

Is the first WTO Director-General Peter Sutherland right to call the collapse of the trade talks a 'disaster'? It would certainly have been better for world trade, world income, and most people in developing countries if the Doha negotiations had succeeded in producing a significant liberalisation in trade rules. But it has been clear for at least five years that a 'big' agreement was not possible, so the claims that several hundred billion dollars worth of potential world trade gains have been ...

Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC) Report - Chronic Poverty Report 2008-09: Escaping Poverty Traps

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:00:00 PDT

The 2008-09 Chronic Poverty Report identifies five main traps that underpin chronic poverty â insecurity, limited citizenship, spatial disadvantage, social discrimination and poor work opportunities â and outlines key policy responses to these. It argues that the development of a 'just social compact' between citizens and states must be the focus for poverty eradication. Development actors can nurture such a compact through social protection, public services, effective anti-discrimination action, gender empowerment, economic growth and fiscal policy, and the management of migration and urbanisation processes. It argues that tackling chronic poverty is the global priority of our time and that eradicating poverty by 2025 is a feasible goal â if national governments and international organisations are willing to make the necessary political commitments and resource allocations. To show the human face behind the statistics and policies, the report intertwines the life stories of seven chronically poor people from across Asia and Africa into the report. The descriptions of the lives of Angel, Moses, Txab, Vuyiswa, Bakyt, and Maymana and Mofizul, help the reader to better appreciate the complex and varied causes of chronic poverty.

ODI Journals - Development Policy Review - Development Policy Review vol. 26, no. 4

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:00:00 PDT

Amongst other themes, articles in the latest issue explore the complementarity of human rights and economics, and the new aid paradigm of economic growth, good governance and social development.

ODI event - Inclusive and sustainable businesses: Strengthening local supplier competitiveness

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Publications - Working Paper - Donor support to private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:00:00 PDT

Private sector development is crucial for growth, development and employment creation in Africa. Recognition of this is evident in donor support programmes which are increasingly targeting the private sector. This study examines how one type of Japanese support, the one-village one-product (OVOP) approach, fits with other donor approaches and how it relates to the development of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). It also presents some preliminary findings from Malawiâs experience of OVOP.

ODI Online - Blog - The importance – and absence – of good governance indicators

Fri, 16 May 2008 01:17:00 PDT

As governance indicators have proliferated in recent years, so has their use and the controversy that surrounds them. As more and more voices are pointing out, existing indicators – many of them developed and launched in the 1990s – have a number of flaws. This is particularly disquieting at a time when governance is at the very top of the development agenda. ...(read more)

ODI event - The role of the IMF in low-income countries and the role of low-income countries in the IMF: Time for a change?

Sun, 11 May 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Online - Blog - Tackling the food price crisis: five steps

Thu, 08 May 2008 03:06:00 PDT

The word "crisis" is much abused. But the current food price crisis constitutes a genuine emergency. Urgency in tackling it is essential....(read more)...

ODI event - The economics and politics of state-business relations and economic growth in Africa

Thu, 01 May 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Journals - Development Policy Review - Development Policy Review vol. 26, no. 3

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

Articles in the latest issue include an exploration of how understanding power in the aid relationship will be critical to implementation of the Paris Declaration, and an evaluation of the performance and ownership effects of privatisation in developing countries.

ODI event - Gender and Agricultural Growth: Policy Engagement Opportunities and Challenges

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Audiovisual - Podcast - Growth and Development

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

Looking at the role growth play in poverty reduction, and the role that the private sector and donors can play in supporting and promoting growth.

ODI event - Measuring Business Impact: A workshop to share recent experiences in understanding the contribution of business to international development

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI in the media - ODI Media Release - Is business good or bad for development?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Publications - Opinion - Measuring the impact of business on development

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

International businesses are exploring how they can boost their impact on local economies in developing countries. While the business benefits of such efforts are relatively well-documented, it is harder to capture the benefits for development. More work is needed to find ways to measure the development impact of businesses, even though many of these benefits may be dynamic and unquantifiable. The best examples of business impact on development use corporate investment as a springboard for local enterprise.

ODI Publications - Opinion - Is CSR just Corporates Saying the Right things?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

This Opinion by Karen Ellis asks how the business community can go beyond corporate social responsibility to make a lasting impact on development. The best way to improve business development impact is to create mechanisms that reward businesses financially for increasing their contribution to development. It restates ODI's call for a 'Good for Development' label for companies that perform well against such indicators as their support for local labour forces, investment in local infrastructure and their contributions to the local community. This is the point where business development performance moves beyond corporate social responsibility to become corporate self interest - a far more powerful motivating force.

ODI Publications - Opinion - Stepping up the ladder: how business can help achieve the MDGs

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

Business and development is the topic to watch and work on in 2008, as businesses respond to sustained pressure to contribute to the MDGs. This Opinion outlines the three -- possibly four -- steps to effective engagement of the private sector in efforts to reach the MDGs. First: business engagement int he community. Second: taking corporate social responsibility into the heart of companies. Third: businesses working through every aspect of their activity to see whether development impact can be improved. An emerging fourth step is involving business in global public policy. Business interests do not always coincide with social interests. But interests do not have to be perfectly aligned for a productive partnership to develop. Opportunities must be seized to build new kinds of relationships with the private sector.

Article in BOND Newsletter - NGOs and business working together for change

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:00:00 PDT

Business is beginning to respond to sustained pressure for a better contribution to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but it is vitally important to maintain the pressure and manage the engagement. In this article for BOND, Simon Maxwell explores how business and NGOs must work together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

ODI in the media - Douglas Alexander: "Economic growth is not an enemy but an ally to make poverty history."

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI in the media - ODI Media release - UK Commits Â£37 million for Centre to tackle Growth in Developing Countries

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:00:00 PDT

ODI Project Papers - Report - Assessing Business Development Impact: A Management Framework for Improved Economic and Socio-Economic Performance Reporting

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:00:00 PDT

This report presents a methodology for assessing business development impact, and outlines a management framework for gathering, interpreting and reporting information on development performance, and managing associated risks. The methodology has been implemented in the oil and gas sector, but most aspects are relevant for other sectors, and the framework can be adapted for wider application.