The Growth Lab

Shaping Africa's Post-Covid Recovery

In this book chapter, Ricardo Hausmann & Patricio Goldstein examine the impact of COVID-19 in Ethiopia, Namibia & South Africa.
The Economic Case for Global Vaccinations

New research models the global economic costs for failure to inoculate developing countries.
How Much Should Countries Invest in Science?

New research shows how the national gains from investments in science hinge on country characteristics.
How do Economies Become More Complex?

Like players in Scrabble, economies possess a set of capabilities – letters – that they can use to produce products – words.
The Growth Lab's Most Important Academic Papers on Economic Complexity

From economic transformation to technology diffusion to the coordination of knowhow, our top papers on what drives growth.

ABOUT US

Led by Ricardo Hausmann, the Growth Lab at Harvard's Center for International Development works to understand the dynamics of growth and to translate those insights into more effective policymaking in developing countries. The Growth Lab places increased economic diversity and complexity at the center of the development story. Learn more about us.

COVID-19 TASK FORCE

In response to COVID-19, Growth Lab Director Ricardo Hausman brought together a task force, including members of our academic and applied research teams, to support our project counterparts worldwide. This team worked quickly to understand the dynamics of the virus by connecting with experts across Harvard University.

Our team has shared new insights and offered strategic guidance on economic and epidemiological policy decisions with project counterparts in Albania, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Namibia, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia. In addition, the team has been responding to requests from other governments around the world to share its learnings. Read more.

EXPLORE OUR GLOBAL REACH

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RESEARCH AGENDAS

Growth Lab faculty and fellows engage in theoretical and empirical research on the determinants of growth and its social, political, and environmental sustainability. Our four core research agendas: