On Monday the 26th of August, the Department of Economics of University of Gothenburg had a session at the EEA ESEM 2013 Conference to discuss the Structural Change and Natural Resources in Developing Countries. The session was sponsored by African Development Bank (AfDB).
Despite the strong economic growth in many low-income countries over the past decade, poverty and huge economic disparities remain widespread problem. In order to bring about a more equitable growth, structural changes, economic modernization, and more wage jobs are needed in the private sector.
In the poorest countries, massive investments in infrastructure and higher education are conducted for the private sector to grow. Such investments may in some cases be made possible by the newly discovered natural resources which are managed in an efficient and sustainable manner. The panel described different perspectives of low-income opportunities and challenges of structural change and economic modernization, focusing on natural resources role. The theme is particularly relevant for researchers in the development and environment, experts in assistance, and intelligence analyst.
Lack of gainful employment opportunities remains a serious threat to sustained and inclusive growth in poor countries. Structural transformation, which entails the movement of resources and labour from traditional activities to the modern sector, can be a forceful engine of job creation. Abundant natural resource wealth can provide the base for structural transformation, but also poses significant challenges. This session investigated the connections between structural transformation and natural resources in developing countries, and the implications for growth and poverty reduction.
The session was sponsored by the African Development Bank, and the panel consisted of some of the world's foremost experts in the field:
- John Page, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, USA, and former Chief Economist at the World Bank's Africa Department
- Rick van der Ploeg, Professor of Economics at Oxford University, UK, and Research Director at the Centre for the Analysis of Resource Rich Economies (OxCarre) in Oxford
- Deok Ryong Yoon, a Researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, and policy advisor in finance in Korea
Moderator for the session was Abebe Shimeles, Research Director at the African Development Bank and an expert on structural change and natural resources in Africa.
Time and place: Monday, August 26, 2013, 12:30 to 14:00, Malmstenssalen, Vasagatan 1, School of Economics, University of Gothenburg.
For more information, please contact Professor Måns Söderbom professor in the Department of Economics: School of Economics, University of Gothenburg. mans.soderbom@economics.gu.se, 073-209 64 44.