The Case for Democracy Week: Economic Development

The ‘Case for Democracy’ Week features five 1.5-hour webinars (one webinar each day) bringing together academics and policymakers in a dialogue based on state-of-the art scientific findings on the dividends of democracy for a series of development outcomes: 1) economic development, 2) human development and infrastructures, 3) human development and health, 4) security, and (5) combating climate change.

Opening: Case for Democracy Week
Introductory Note: Dr. Staffan I. Lindberg, Founding Director of the V-Dem Institute & Professor of Political Science, University of Gothenburg.
Welcome Address: (recorded: Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, EC)

Webinar #1: Economic Development (SDG 1, 8, and 10)

Chair: Dr. Vanessa Boese, Research Fellow, V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
Presenters: 
- Dr. James Robinson, Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies, and Institute Director of the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago.
• ‘Does Democracy Cause Growth?’ (SDG 8)

- Dr. Rohini Pande, Henry J. Heinz II Professor of Economics and Director of the Economic Growth Center, Yale University.
• ‘Can democracy work for the poor?’ (SDG 10)

- Dr. Carl Henrik Knutsen, Professor of Political Science, University of Oslo, Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), and co-Principal Investigator, V-Dem Institute. 
• ‘The Business Case for Democracy’ (SDG 1)