A Tale of Two Hands' (Presidential Address)

1986 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-245
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Development Economics ◽  
World View ◽  
Presidential Address

This may not be the "worst of times" for the discipline of development economics, but this is also not the "best of times" for it. The discipline, rocked by a kind of schizophrenia that its votaries appear to be suffering from, is undergoing a painful, though not necessarily a Kafkaesque, metamorphosis. The consensus of the decades of the Fifties and Sixties about the nature and legitimacy of the discipline and about its 'world-view' has been seriously strained - indeed, according to some 'observers', already broken down. While the defenders of the faith [27; 36; 48] refuse to surrender, some of its erstwhile votaries [11] wish to force on the discipline a Carthaginian peace. And the dissenters [3; 24] have subjected its predictions and prescriptions to the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune."

In Pursuit of a New Paradigm (Presidential Address)

1991 ◽  
Vol 30 (4I) ◽  
pp. 337-365
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Development Economics ◽  
Publishing Industry ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Good News ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Economic Knowledge ◽  
The Subject

After 40 years of its birth, development economics has come to be widely accepted - without universal acclaim. In sharp contrast to some pessimistic evaluations of the subject, the academic community has granted it the right to a separate existence. But the recognition has not come easy. From the first full-length evaluation of the discipline by Chenery (1965), in which he looks at it as a variation on the classical theme of comparative advantage, to Stem's (1989) sympathetic review of the contributions that the discipline has made to the state of economic knowledge, development economics has experienced many a vicissitude - both the laurels of glory and the "arrows of outrageous fortune". But, finally, it has become an industry in its own right, of which not only social profitability but also 'private' profitability appears to be strictly positive: the publishing industry continues to patronize it and publish full-length books on the subject. Four decades of development experience, the production of massive cross-country and time-series data about a large number of development variables, the construction of large macro-economic models and fast-running computers, and the application of mathematical methods, have all combined to lay the foundations of a theoretically rigorous and policy-relevant development paradigm, which is gradually replacing the old one. All this is good news for development economists, who can now afford not only bread but also some butter for their daily parsnips .

The Importance of Being Defunct (Presidential Address)

1985 ◽  
Vol 24 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 211-234
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Development Economics ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Great Expectations ◽  
Founding Fathers

For development economists these arc the days of great expectations. Development economics as a discipline, born only three decades ago, has come to stay, notwithstanding the threats to its existence issued openly by such friends as Schultz [63], Bauer [2], Little [44], and Lal [39]. New theoretical constructs have been devised and novel empirical studies done to comprehend better the forces of change in developing countries. While of late there may not have been great festivity in the realm of ideas, the force of circumstances has widened the problem canvas of development economics and has opened up new vistas for economists to explore- much beyond the expectations of its founding fathers. Also notwithstanding the great diversity in the experience of individual countries, development economists may legitimately draw some comfort from the thought that their ideas have changed the developing world for the better.

“The great question in agitation”: George Bentham and the origin of species

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Bellon
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
World View ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Ideal Model ◽  
Systematic Botany ◽  
Origin Of Species ◽  
Linnean Society

George Bentham initially expressed reservations about Darwin's Origin of species (1859). What most troubled Bentham was the potentially disruptive nature of Darwin's ideas for natural history. Bentham, renowned even among other naturalists for always proceeding with the utmost intellectual caution, decided to ignore Darwin's theory. This reticence disappointed Darwin, who pressured Bentham unsuccessfully to give an assessment of the Origin. Bentham did, however, publicly praise Darwin's work on the fertilisation of orchids as an ideal model for natural history research. Finally, in his 1863 presidential address to the Linnean Society, Bentham directly addressed “the great question in agitation”, evolution. His judicious praise of the Origin would, Darwin was convinced, “do more to shake the unshaken & bring on those leaning to our side, than anything written directly in favour of transmutation.” Bentham's tentative conversion to evolution came only after Darwin's work, particularly on orchids, convinced him that evolution would add “stability” to systematic work. As a result, evolution's influence on systematic botany was largely conservative. It validated, rather than challenged, the method, systems, world view and intellectual authority of established experts like Bentham.

The Bases of Development Policy (Presidential Address)

1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (4I) ◽  
pp. 321-330
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Development Economics ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Market Mechanism ◽  
Classical Economics ◽  
Economic Progress ◽  
Free Market Capitalism ◽  
The Government

Development economics seeks to isolate the elemental forces at work in developing countries that raise per capita income, initially and then continuously, by exploiting fully the inter-industry and inter-sectoral network of economies of scale, externalities, and complementarities; it also analyses the key factors that decide a fair distribution of the fruits of economic progress, and those which enhance human happiness more directly. The process of economic development is seen as complex, even mysterious; which must be tackled by conscious planning where coordination failures are threatening, and through the market mechanism if information problems are daunting. Yet a persistent theme in economic literature has been one of denial of the (marginal) utility of development economics. Essentially, most of these “arguments” against development economics are nothing more than a thinly disguised championing of the ideology of free-market capitalism and neo-classical economics as the ultimate truths about the economic universe [Heilbroner (1990)]. They are a frame of thought into which development economics would not fit “naturally”. As one would expect, these views about development economics have not gone unchallenged. But the main issue is far from settled. I, therefore, restate here the case for development economics to make sure that development policy is saved from the revages of an incompatible liberalist philosophy. I would concentrate on issues related to the acknowledged mainsprings of economic progress, and those related to the relationship between trade and growth and the interface of the government and the market. Finally, I would like to emphasise the need to acquire an overarching ethical vision in order to identify the ends of economic progress and to order the means to achieve them.

For Morality's Sake! (Presidential Address)

1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (4I) ◽  
pp. 357-376
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Development Economics ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Neoclassical Economics ◽  
Prodigal Son ◽  
Rational Behaviour ◽  
General Climate ◽  
Looking Back

After much wandering in the woods, the key exponents and practitioners of the discipline seem to have rediscovered that development economics is a worthy discipline in its own right. The general climate seems to be one of homecoming celebrations. This is odd because 'rational' behaviour should not have led development economists to cutting down, in the first place, the bough on which they had rested so comfortably. But, looking back, this self-sacrificing posture was indeed assumed for a time by some distinguished votaries of the subdiscipline who could well have wound up their shop. To cut losses, such development economists even sought to arrange a happy reunion of the 'prodigal' son (development economics) with the somewhat annoyed parents (neoclassical economics). They meant well, thinking that the subdiscipline would gain in union what it lost in estrangement and that it would thus live happily ever after, aglow with the halo of scientific rectitude, though far removed from the 'madding crowd'! [Schultz {I 964); Chenery (1983)].

Economic Development and Development Economics (Presidential Address)

1993 ◽  
Vol 32 (4I) ◽  
pp. 357-386
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Development Economics ◽  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Critical Level ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Political Freedoms ◽  
Ethical Vision

To state that development economics is about economic development is now considered beyond debate. But opinions differ about what constitutes economic development and its proper index; in particular whether the growth of per capita income adequately captures its flavour. Thus, instead of being regarded, a La Lewis, as just a synonym for capital accumulation going above a certain critical level, development economics is now also required to respond to such challenges as raising the quality of life that people succeed in achieving by living longer; by being more literate in addition to being more prosperous; and, environmentally speaking, by making the development process sustainable. Indeed, our discipline is being asked to encompass an ever wider set of problems and venture into domains where it has not entered before: namely, the choices that people make; the economic and political freedoms they enjoy; the heavy incidence of poverty among the least privileged in the society, including the rural poor; the unjust social and economic structures that must be changed; the regulatory framework that needs to be evolved to enable the market to work-hopefully in the interest of the society. What complicates matters even more is that to be able to address many of these issues, development economics must transcend the self-imposed boundaries of strict positivism and acquire an overarching ethical vision. If mainstream economics is (rightly) regarded as a difficult science, development economics is even more so.

scholarly journals Environment and Natural Resource Management (The Presidential Address)

2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (4I) ◽  
pp. 325-336
Author(s):  
Rashid Amjad
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resource Management ◽  
Development Economics ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
General Meeting ◽  
Annual Conference ◽  
Planning Commission ◽  
Deputy Chairman ◽  
High Regard ◽  
Golden Jubilee ◽  
Different Parts

Engr. Dr. M. Akram Sheikh, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of Pakistan. Past Presidents of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists, Distinguished participants to the 23rd Annual Conference and General Meeting of the Society. Ladies and Gentlemen: It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to deliver the Presidential address at this prestigious forum. I am very well aware of my distinguished predecessors who have served as Presidents of this Society and I hope that I can during my tenure do justice to this responsibility. As you perhaps know yesterday we held the first Convocation of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics and in the afternoon we launched the Golden Jubilee Celebrations to mark fifty years of its existence. I am sure that given the high regard and esteem with which we all hold the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, members of the Society will share in the pride that we all feel on the award of 10 PhDs and one MPhil to students of the Institute and also join me in congratulating the Institute on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee. The plans are to hold the Golden Jubilee Celebrations in different parts of the country and we look forward to your active participation in these events.

Development Economics: The Winds of Change (Presidential Address)

1992 ◽  
Vol 31 (4I) ◽  
pp. 341-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Development Economics ◽  
Capita Income ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Physical Capital ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Per Capita Income ◽  
Mainstream Economics ◽  
Classical Economics ◽  
Per Capita

Ever since its birth as a new discipline, development economics has experienced the heights of universal acclaim as a pioneer (ready to slay the dragon of poverty single-handed) as well as the depths of a heretic isolation (as an outsider to the realm of mainstream economics). Between these two views a consensus is emerging that there is a role, though a reduced one, for development economics. This role exists because the concern for growth and distribution, though in the very veins of mainstream economics, has been highlighted fully only by development economics. However, it is a somewhat reduced role because a greater recognition of the (marginal) utility of free markets, in place of an overly interventionist state - which requires it to speak the language of neo-classical economics, makes it difficult for it to differentiate its 'products' from those offered by others. There also appears to be a changing perception about the key variable(s) that development economics should focus on: the ends of development (i.e., improving the welfare of the people) rather than the means of achieving it (i.e., the growth of per capita income); a more comprehensive indicator of development composed of such components as longevity and literacy, rather than just per capita income; human capital rather than just physical capital to account for the positive contribution of educati0n and health to economic growth; the gains from international trade, instead of looking a. it as an instrument of exploitation of the 'periphery' by the 'centre'; the central role of total factor productivity in achieving high rates of economic growth; and so on.

The Anatomy of 'Failures' (Presidential Address)

1987 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-274
Author(s):  
Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Development Economics ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Economic Justice ◽  
Individual Liberty ◽  
Classical Economics ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Needy

Development economics, in its bid to attract the attention of the somewhat unchivalrous economists, has worn many masks in the intellectual ball that has been going on since 1950. And it has indeed been variously recognized by the dazzled economists - as a relentless pursuer of growth at all cost, Arthur Lewis (1954); a passionate advocate of economic justice and a purveyor of basic needs for the poor and the needy, Paul Street en (1981); a crusader against 'dependency' on some real or abstract centre, Samir Amin (1976); a revolutionary with a cause to eliminate the last traces of imperialism, feudalism and capitalism, Paul Baran (1952); a tame &alancer of growth, equity and individual liberty, Hollis B. Chenery (1983); and a pretender to the throne in a realm that rightly belongs to neo-classical economics, Deepak Lal (1983).

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