Pioneering research and methods to unlock
economic growth and prosperity around the world

At the Growth Lab, we push the frontiers of economic growth and development policy research, collaborate with policymakers to design actions, and share our insights through teaching, tools and publications, in the pursuit of inclusive prosperity.

RESEARCH

Sustainable Recovery for Lebanon

Lebanon's current economic crisis ranks among the worst in recent history. GDP has collapsed by 38%, the local currency has lost 98% of its value, and the country suffers from high inflation. Lebanese citizens are unable to access funds in their bank accounts, while the government struggles to provide basic public services. In this new report, we propose a strategy for Lebanon's economic recovery that addresses all the dimensions of the crisis while recognizing the need to rapidly kick-start the economic recovery.

Download Full Report  Download Executive Summary  Watch Video Summary 

Research

Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa

South Africa is facing severe economic and social challenges, including weak and declining economic growth and the world’s highest inequality and unemployment. This new report is the result of a two-year applied research project by the Growth Lab that worked to understand why South Africa is struggling so mightily to grow its economy and to include more South Africans, now three decades since the end of apartheid. The report offers a path forward.

Download Report  Download Summary  Watch Video Series  Podcast Episodes

Data Viz

A collage of graphs

Top Visual Insights of 2023

Our multi-disciplinary team extended our pioneering research agenda to five continents in 2023. Our researchers engaged the world in leveraging decarbonization as a pathway for growth, identifying the barriers to migration and mobility of skills, examining inequality in cities and the effects of remoteness on growth, and understanding the role of innovation in economic complexity.

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How We Work

Academic Research

Academic Research

Our wide range of research falls into three categories – economic transformation, knowledge and technology diffusion, and the coordination of knowhow – and draws on multiple disciplines.

Policy Research

Policy Research

Through country policy engagements, we employ and test various research approaches, tailored to a country, region, or city's specific constraints, opportunities, and capacity.

Digital Tools

Digital Tools

We translate research and thoughts into web applications and interactive storytelling, all made publicly available and used by a global community of policymakers, scholars, investors, and journalists.

Teaching

Teaching

We integrate research insights into master's and doctoral degree curricula at Harvard Kennedy School and executive education curricula for senior economists and policymakers.

Media & Outreach

Media & Outreach

We engage through seminars, special events, internships, podcasts, op-eds and social media.

Publications

Publications

We diffuse insights through working papers, peer-reviewed journals, books, reports, policy briefs, etc.

Where We Work

Impact & Reach in 2023

10

Country-Specific Projects

29

Publications

181

Executive Education Participants

36

Seminars & Talks