Policy Research

The Growth Lab approaches its engagements through a combination of fieldwork, rigorous, cutting-edge research, and effective policy implementation.

Our research teams work to understand the specific dynamics of economic growth and structural change in different contexts. These engagements provide local stakeholders with insights on the policies needed to unleash the growth potential of their economies. They also allow our researchers to address large development divergences within countries with different policy mixes tailored to specific regions.

More About Policy Research

The Growth Lab uses the Growth Diagnostics approach to identify the binding constraints to growth in the countries and regions where we work. We also use the Product Space and Economic Complexity frameworks as a starting point to understand opportunities for economic diversification and the accumulation of productive knowhow.

Projects

Lebanese Lira Currency being counted by a money counting machine

Lebanon
Towards a Sustainable Recovery for Lebanon's Economy

One of the most severe economic collapses in recent history has citizens unable to access their bank accounts, and the government struggling to provide basic public services.  Our researchers propose a strategy  that addresses all the dimensions of this crisis while recognizing the need to rapidly kick-start Lebanon's economic recovery.

Landscape of homes with mountains in the distance

South Africa
Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa

Intensive two-year applied research project included a deep diagnostic of South Africa's severe economic and social challenges. Final report describes how South Africa is not accomplishing its goals of inclusion, empowerment, and transformation and argues that new strategies are needed.

Wooden sign reads Wyoming, Rock Springs Coal with freight train cars and railroad tracks in the background

United States
Pathways to Prosperity in Wyoming

In this project, the research team is working in partnership with the Wyoming Business Council, numerous state agencies, local government offices, and Wyoming-based research institutions to develop stronger pathways to sustainable prosperity across the State of Wyoming.

More Projects

  
Skyline of Dubai, UAE with a train in the foreground

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Economic Growth and Trade in the UAE

As part of this initiative, the Growth Lab strives to provide rigorous and actionable research that can support the UAE Ministry of Economy, but also other key policymakers in the UAE, in their mission to promote high-quality sustainable growth, trade, and productivity-driven economic transformation.

Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Prosperity in Namibia

Namibia
Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Prosperity in Namibia

The Growth Lab has been working with Namibia since 2020 on understanding the drivers of macroeconomic sustainability, diagnosing the constraints to growth, studying inequality and labor market dynamics across the country, and more.

Wind turbines atop a green hillside with clouds scattered across a blue sky

Research Agenda
Green Growth

Decarbonization presents a defining opportunity for growth by creating new industries, markets, and paths for economic development. The Growth Lab is researching how countries can leverage these trends to develop green growth strategies. Our research involves understanding changes in technology, patterns of demand, and value chains for green industries.

Publications & Analysis

The city of Tingo Maria with La Bella Durmiente mountain in the background

Working Paper
The Economic Tale of Two Amazons

This new paper synthesizes the findings of two Growth Lab projects that studied the nature of economic growth in the Peruvian and Colombian Amazon. While deforestation is often treated as inevitable to serve human needs, local and global, our research fails to find evidence of a tradeoff between economic growth and forest protection. The economic drivers in the Amazon are its urban areas often located far from the forest.

At a Glance: 2023 

10

Country-Specific Projects

31

Research Fellows & RAs

15

Policy Publications

21

Student Internships

People

The Team

Led by Ricardo Hausmann, the Policy Research team consists of more than two dozen fellows and research assistants from 13 countries.

Meet our Team

Join Our Team

Jobs & Opportunities

Join our team of leading economists and public policy experts to lead a cutting-edge development research agenda and gain first-hand experience working with policy partners, developing research inputs for policy design.

Open Positions