Past Projects

Africa

Africa

Africa

Research project (2012-2014) focused at identifying the most important constraints on African growth and recommended interventions that can relax these constraints. Our researched covered four thematic areas: Productivity and Economic Growth, Innovations in Financial Services and Governance and Leadership, in Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda and Uganda. 

City skyline view focused on a high-rise building under construction with a pool in the foreground

Advancing Economic Diversification in Ethiopia

The Growth Lab and the Government of Ethiopia initiated this engagement in 2019 to advance research, policy analysis, and knowledge sharing toward the goal of sustaining rapid and inclusive growth in the country.

Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Prosperity in Namibia

Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Prosperity in Namibia

Three year policy engagement (2020-2023) focused on understanding the drivers of macroeconomic sustainability, diagnosing the constraints to growth, studying inequality and labor market dynamics across the country, and more.

south africa

South Africa Growth Initiative

From 2006-2008, the Growth Lab convened a panel of international experts from Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, and other institutions to work with South African economists to study the country's constraints to and opportunities for accelerated growth.

Asia

Aerival view of homes and land in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Kazakhstan

In this policy engagement (2021-2022), researchers identified binding constraints to growth, and provided research based inputs to inform policy aimed at promoting export diversification and investments. 

Large highway bridge spans river in Semey, Kazakhstand

Kazakhstan Strategy and Policy

This report is a collection of policy memos that deal with the choices the government faces going forward in the broad area of macroeconomic policies, including fiscal policy and institutions, monetary and exchange rate arrangements and policies, financial policies, industrial policy, trade policy and broad issues in institutional development.

New Pathways to Inclusive Growth in Sri Lanka

New Pathways to Inclusive Growth in Sri Lanka

Multi-phase research project (2015-2018) in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka aimed on putting growth on a sustainable and inclusive footing. Research included Growth Diagnostics and Economic Complexity analyses, and strategic support for empowering exporters to compete globally; upgrading knowhow for diversification; and achieving growth across regions. 

Europe

Institutional Strengthening & Diversification in Albania

Institutional Strengthening & Diversification in Albania

This multi-year project has gone through different stages of evolution, from helping Albania gain macroeconomic stability, to targeted interventions in sectors with growth potential, such as agriculture, fasons, tourism, special economic zones, energy, and investments. Researchers also worked hand in hand with the government and diaspora groups in the United States to find ways of engaging Albanians abroad with social and economic development in Albania.

Latin America

Economic Growth in Baja California, Campeche, and Tabasco

Economic Growth in Baja California, Campeche, and Tabasco

Funded by Mexico's Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, the goal of this project was to diagnose the challenges and obstacles confronting Baja California, Campeche and Tabasco in terms of growth and productivity, and identify the development strategy that would allow for expansion or strengthening of their industries through transitioning to activities with greater complexity or added value. 

Analysis of Economic Potential of Mexico's Southern States (Chiapas)

Analysis of Economic Potential of Mexico's Southern States (Chiapas)

Collaboration (2014-2015) with the Mexican Ministry of Finance to examine the underlying causes of poverty in Mexico's poorest state. Our team of scholars and research fellows generated six reports including Complexity Report, Growth Diagnostic, Poverty Profile and Policy Recommendations.

Advancing Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability in the Amazonian States in Colombia

Policy engagement (2021-2023) to produce data-driven research inputs and actionable policy options to foster economic prosperity without harming the forest in the Colombian Amazon.

The Role of the Diaspora in the Internationalization of the Colombian Economy

The Role of the Diaspora in the Internationalization of the Colombian Economy

Research study into the geography, the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the global Colombian diaspora to assess and identify its professional, managerial, and entrepreneurial experiences, geographic distribution, and willingness to share their knowhow, networks, and skills.

Dominican Republic Project

Dominican Republic Project

Collaboration with the Dominican government to develop a strategy to create a highly-productive, internationally competitive economy. With a vision for 2030, this team of scholars, practitioners, and government agencies aimed to revitalize the Dominican economy, promoting inclusive growth and sustainable human development.

Mexico Competitiveness Report

Mexico Competitiveness Report

The key strengths and weaknesses of Mexico’s economic landscape are explored in a comprehensive report co-produced by the Growth Lab and World Economic Forum (WEF).  The Mexico Competitiveness Report was released in June 2009 at a workshop in Mexico City attended by several top-level government officials, including Mexican President Felipe Calderón MPA/MC 2000.

Analysis of Economic Potential of Panama

Analysis of Economic Potential of Panama

Research initiative (2016-2017) aimed at exploring export diversification opportunities, and identifying goods and services that are likely to develop at the national and sub-national level. We studied the underlying conditions and made an effort to pinpoint potential binding constraints facing Panama.

Economic Growth and Structural Transformation in the Amazon Region of Loreto, Peru

Economic Growth and Structural Transformation in Loreto, Peru

Located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Loreto's geography and the remoteness of its capital pose challenges to economic integration with the rest of the country, as do the social and environmental challenges from managing the extraction of natural resources, preserving the Amazon ecosystem, and protecting its indigenous communities.

Economic Growth and Governance for Venezuela

Economic Growth and Governance for Venezuela

Research initiative launched in 2015 to better understand the causes, magnitudes, and possible remedies of the Venezuelan crisis. This multi-disciplinary research team included a large group of Venezuelan specialists with a proven record of professional and academic expertise on their specific topics of interest. 

Security and Development Seminar Series

Security and Development Seminar Series

Over the 2016-2017 academic year, the Growth Lab hosted four high-level discussions exploring the intersections between security, growth, and development in Latin America. 

North America

Functional Structures of U.S. State Governments

Functional Structures of U.S. State Governments

Researchers from the Growth Lab and Northeastern University's Center for Complex Network Research developed a technique for mapping Internet "footprint" of government with network science methods. They used the approach to describe and analyze the diversity in functional scale and structure among the 50 state governments reflected in the webpages and links they have created online.

Middle East

Jordan: Macro-Economic Stability and Long-Term Growth

Jordan: Macro-Economic Stability and Long-Term Growth

A project (2018-2019) to deliver research targeted toward building a foundation for macroeconomic stability and long-term growth, with a focus on understand constraints to growth and key opportunities. 

Industry Diversification and Job Growth in Saudi Arabia

Industry Diversification and Job Growth in Saudi Arabia

Multi-year policy engagement launched in 2016 with the Ministry of Economy and Planning to advance research and policy development processes on how to spark economic diversification and job creation in Saudi Arabia. Also worked to build core capabilities within Saudi ministerial units to generate their own modeling and research across a staircase of institutional capabilities to better achieve job creation outcomes.
Sports Complexity

Sports Complexity

Collaborative research project (2013-2015) with the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to examine the factors that influence the development of a robust and sustainable sports sector.

Oceania

Mining pit in Kalgoorlie Australia

Western Australia

The Growth Lab used its Growth Diagnostics and Economic Complexity methodologies to analyze the State of Western Australia’s economy and to identify avenues for productive diversification and sustainable economic transformation both at a state and regional level.

Global

Aid Explorer

Aid Explorer

Developed as a tool to facilitate better aid coordination, the Aid Explorer enables users to understand a country's issues and which aid organizations are aligned to address these issues. By exploring the Network maps, it is possible to understand how issues, countries, and organizations relate to each other. Findings and the best alignments of countries, issues and organizations are reported in the Rankings.

Migration Project

Migration Project

Committed to understanding and strengthening the links between migration, remittances and prosperity. The Project also worked to expand the possibilities for comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. by bringing a development lens to the domestic policy debate.

Global Trade Negotiations 

A portal (1999-2007) for trade research, activity, proceedings and debate.