VIII Summer School on Economics and Philosophy (2005)

Redefining the role of international economic organisations:
Poverty, debt, trade and transition

A summer school organized by the University of the Basque Country and the Urrutia Elejalde Foundation.
San Sebastián, July 26th-29th (2005)

Director: Ricardo Lago (Florida International University)
Former official of the EBRD, IADB, and the World Bank

Coordinators: Alfonso Dubois (UPV/EHU) & David Teira (UNED)

Aims and scope | Key Issues and methodology | Speakers
Contributed papers | Registration and grants | More information

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Schedule | Papers | Contributed papers

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1. Aims and scope: The purpose of the course will be to analyze the role and assess the performance of (and ideally suggest reform proposals for international economic institutions in addressing four central issues: poverty, trade, debt and transition. Four institutions will be the subject of scrutiny the International Monetary Fund (IMF); the Word Trade Organization (WTO); the World Bank (WB); the Inter American Development Bank (IADB); and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

2. Key Issues and Methodology: Departing from a cursory background about the history and (evolving) objectives of each of these institutions, the speakers will analyze: the effectiveness of each in achieving its objectives; the merits of the key criticisms against them; and the main reforms to address these criticisms. The methodology will comprise: (i) defining the benchmarks to assess success for each institution; (ii) appraising the institution's performance against those benchmarks; and (iii) identifying the redefined role and objectives and/or the institutional reforms necessary to improve performance.

The issues of moral hazard, lender of last resort, "redundant" lending, and "crowding out" of private financing should feature prominent attention. Current programs of the institutions to combat poverty should be analyzed and the suitability of grants versus debt will be assessed. The role of foreign trade reform in the poverty relief agenda will be studied. Also, speakers will address the issue as to whether the existence of these institutions is justified as they are or else significant reforms are needed.

3. Speakers: Paulina Beato (InterAmerican Development Bank), Mario I. Blejer (Bank of England), Willem Buiter (EBRD & LSE), Michel Camdessus, Guillermo de la Dehesa (CEPR), Edgardo Favaro (World Bank), Kurt Geiger (EBRD), Ernesto Hernandez-Cata (Johns Hopkins U.), Joaquín de la Herrán (CESCE), Enrique Iglesias (InterAmerican Development Bank), Javier Iguiñiz (PUC), Piroska Nagy (EBRD & World Bank), Demetrios Papageorgiou (Rubicon capital), Cristian Popa (National Bank of Romania), Anne Sibert (Birbeck College), Boris Vujcic (Croatian National Bank & U. Zagreb)

4. Contributed papers: Students attending the Summer course are encouraged to submit short papers. However , given time constraints only a limited number of papers, on topics related to the theme of the course, will be admitted for short presentations during the afternoon sessions . If you are interested in submitting a paper , please forward an extended abstract, preferably as an e-mail attachment (.doc or .pdf file) before May 31st to David Teira (dteira {at} fsof.uned.es)

5. Registration and grants: The organization offers a number of grants to cover registration fees and/or accommodation expenses. Applications should include a short C.V. and, in the case of graduate students, a letter of recommendation by at least one professor. Notice that it is not necessary to present a paper in order to apply for a grant. Download and fill the two following forms (forms) and send them via e-mail before May 31st to: cursosverano {at} sc.ehu.es

6. More information: Any question concerning the V Summer School may be addressed to David Teira (dteira {at} fsof.uned.es)

Visit also: http://www.sc.ehu.es/scrwwwsu/Programas/x2.html

Summer School