Events and Conferences
Deep Engagement, Cutting Edge Research
Noted speakers are invited to the CDE to present public lectures and to conduct in-class seminars on topics related to the problems faced by developing countries. These lectures offer a unique opportunity for CDE fellows to interact with major policymakers in the field of economic development. The small class size gives each student access to the speaker and allows a meaningful exchange of ideas.
In addition to seminars, which follow the typical lecture format, the CDE also hosts Development Dialogues, a lunch series intended to facilitate interactive dialogue with policymakers, academics, fellows, and undergraduates.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thank you for a great academic year 2022-2023. Events for the upcoming 2023-2024 season will be announced in late August. Check out listings for our past seminars below.
Conferences
2025 Conference
MONETARY TRANSMISSION IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES | April 17-18, 2025
A two-day conference bringing key economists to share their research on a topic of the year.
Past Conferences
Health and Development | April, 2024
Finance and Development | April, 2023
Gender and Economic Development | April, 2019
Technology and Financial Services | April, 2018
Climate Change and Development Policy | April, 2017
Tackling Global Poverty | April, 2016
Historical Persistence in Comparative Development | October, 2015
August 24-25, 2024, Gelardina Prodani (CDE '09, Albania)
January 11-12, 2025, Abdoulaye Magassouba (CDE '11, Guinea)
May 31-June 1, 2025, Aban Haq (CDE '06, Pakistan)
Professional Development Teas, Fall 2024
| 9/10/24 | Andrew Powell | Williams College | Commodity markets: A Primer |
| 9/16/24 | Santiago Levy | Brookings | Informality |
| 10/1/24 | Andrew Powell | Williams College | Sudden Stops During COVID: The Dog that Didn’t Bark |
| 10/22/24 | Andrew Powell | Williams College | Multilateral Financing: Squeezing More Toothpaste from the Tube |
| 10/28/24 | Eric Parrado | Inter American Development Bank, Chief Economist | Managing natural resources |
| 11/11/24 | Anna Gelpern | Georgetown Law | Debt default: recent developments |
PAST EVENTS
Abdoulaye Magassouba (CDE ’11, Guinea): Getting Results amid Conflicting Expectations
As part of the CDE/Per Jacobsson Foundation Speaker Series, Mr. Abdoulaye Magassouba, former Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Guinea, visited Williams College in January 2025. On January 11, he delivered a public lecture titled “Getting Results Amid Conflicting Expectations”, sharing insights from his experiences navigating governance challenges in the Presidency and…
Anna Gelpern: Current Challenges for Debt Restructuring in Developing Countries
Anna Gelpern, Professor of Law and International Finance at Georgetown University Law School, specializes in international financial regulation and sovereign debt. Her extensive expertise in law and economics has shaped global financial governance. Gelpern’s work is vital in navigating complex financial landscapes and promoting economic stability on a global scale.
Eric Parrado: Managing Natural Resources Revenues
Eric Parrado is known for his expertise in finance and public policy. Serving as the Chief Economist and General Manager of the Research Department at the Inter-American Development Bank, Parrado’s research and insights greatly impact economic development and financial stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Past Guest Speakers
Pierre-Richard Agenor, University of Manchester
Fakhruddin Ahmed, CDE ’71, former Chief Adviser of Bangladesh and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank
Oliver Babson, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Nancy Birdsall, Center for Global Development
Olivier Blanchard, International Monetary Fund
Stijn Claessens, International Monetary Fund
Angus Deaton, Princeton University and Nobel Prize Recipient
Karen Dynan, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and Chief Economist of the United States Department of the Treasury
Solomon Hsiang, University of California Berkeley
Ishrat Husain, CDE ’72, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan
Ahmed Kaikaus, CDE '00, World Bank
Michael Kremer, Harvard University
Eteri Kvintradze, CDE ’99, International Monetary Fund
Guillermo Ortiz, Banorte, formerly Banco Central de Mexico
Dani Rodrik, Harvard University
Andrew Steer, World Resources Institute
Joseph Stiglitz, Columbia University
Gary Teves, CDE ’68, former Secretary of the Department of Finance of the Philippines
Goh Chok Tong, CDE ’67, former Prime Minister of Singapore
David Weil, Brown University