Charter Cities Podcast

Imagine Africa built their infrastructure using the same systems as the Western World. Embracing sustainability is a critical element of building a greener future for Africa and the world. Leander Moons is the Founding Owner of Studio OMT Architects, a mass timber architecture and urban design firm working in Africa and Europe. During this episode, he joins us to chat about building in Africa in collaboration with local communities. We discuss the rising industry of mass timber and its potential impact on the future of construction. We explore the opportunities and sustainability considerations for scaling timber construction in Africa, and the various projects in development by Leander's firm in Fumba Town Zanzibar; including Africa's tallest timber tower. Join us for an insightful conversation filled with hope for the impact of green choices in Africa on the world beyond its borders. Thank you for listening. Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Leander Moons on LinkedIn Studio OMT Architects Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on X

How do you take the positive aspects of Silicon Valley, and apply it to a radically different context like developing charter cities? Today, Jeffrey Mason, Head of Research at the Charter Cities Institute (CCI), is joined by Mark Lutter, Founder and Executive Director of CCI, and CEO of Braavos Cities, to discuss how the charter cities ecosystem has evolved over the past few years and what he’s learned about building successful coalitions. Mark tells us about the circumstances that motivated him to found CCI, and what it’s been like combining key features of Silicon Valley, (like entrepreneurial spirit, disruption, and innovation) with the challenging work of creating a coalition of different stakeholders — some of whom are likely to be relatively conservative. We discuss the broader ecosystem that CCI has been building, and how it can act as a force multiplier for other cities, before learning more about CCI’s most recent projects, including their endeavors in Zanzibar and how they are contributing to development there. Mark also expands on his new company, Braavos Cities, their long-term goals, and the work that they are doing in the Caribbean. We wrap up our conversation with an overview of exciting developments to pay attention to in the charter cities space, from Zanzibar to California, and how to gain momentum in politically challenging environments. Be sure to tune in for a deep dive into the evolution of charter cities and their broader ecosystem! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Mark Lutter Mark Lutter Charter Cities Institute Mark Lutter on X Mark Lutter on Medium Braavos Cities Jeffrey Mason on LinkedIn

Can a city hold the key to unlocking economic prosperity on a grand scale? In this episode, we sit down with Brooke Bowman and Mark Lutter to discuss charter cities and their role in addressing economic development challenges. Mark is a visionary thinker invested in progress, governance, social dynamics, and the concept of new cities. He is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Charter Cities Institute and CEO of Braavos Cities, a pioneering charter city development company. Brooke is the founder of Vibecamp, a community that aims to foster connections and personal growth. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of community-building, economic development, and cultural influence. We unpack the concept of charter cities as a way to address economic development challenges and the importance of facilitating genuine connections with people through city developments and fostering community and co-living without excessive overhead. Tuning in, you’ll discover the value of creating spaces where like-minded individuals can gather and interact and how the intersection of co-creation and play drives culture and innovation. To learn how to unlock the potential of charter cities and create vibrant, sustainable communities with a focus on culture, innovation, and positive societal impact, don’t miss this conversation! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Brooke Bowman Brooke Bowman on X Mark Lutter Mark Lutter on X Braavos Cities Vibecamp The Network State Conference Jason Benn The Neighborhood Cabin City Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on...

What would it take to create the ideal jurisdiction for global tech companies to be able to grow and scale in Africa? Joining us today to unpack this question is Luqman Edu, co-founder and CEO of Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Free Zone. Through their partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, Itana is creating an opportunity for global businesses to operate and provide services remotely, without being physically present in Nigeria. We use today’s conversation to delve into the ins and outs of building a Digital Free Zone, Itana’s ambition to become the Delaware of Africa, how this will help companies connect with untapped African talent, and what it will take to realize these goals. We discuss the key challenges startups and companies typically face when trying to do business in Nigeria or Africa, how Itana is solving these problems, the unique benefits they are offering to the first 100 companies to partner with them, and much more. You won’t want to miss out on this thought-provoking conversation with Luqmna Edu on Itana, the innovative work that they’re doing, and why success for Itana means success for Africa! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Luqman Edu on LinkedIn Itana Itana 100 Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on X

Many countries need radical structural transformation, specifically in more developing nations, and Growth Teams and made it part of their mission to empower developing countries to create jobs and grow their economies. Today, we are in conversation with the cofounders of Growth Teams, Kartik Akileswaran and Jonathan Mazumdar. The pair are here to discuss how their business is playing its part in creating economic stability in countries around the world. Our conversation begins with a breakdown of Growth Teams, how the company works, and why Kartik and Jonathan chose to build it. After taking a look at our guests’ professional backgrounds, we dive into the definition of structural transformation, assess its importance, discover why it’s so difficult to facilitate and brainstorm ways for governments to stand true to their promises of transformation. We also learn how Growth Teams gets involved in government outreaches, how it’s doing things differently to achieve better results, the countries it is working with, and everything the business has planned moving forward. Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Kartik Akileswaran on LinkedIn Jonathan Mazumdar on LinkedIn Growth Teams ‘Governance and Development' The perspective of growth-enhancing governance’ ‘Which World Bank Reports Are Widely Read?’ Pockets of Effectiveness Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on FacebookCharter Cities Institute on Xl

Affordable housing and economic development challenges in Africa are multifaceted and interconnected, but what is the solution? In today’s conversation, we sit down with Jon Vandenheuvel, the founder of Small Farm Cities Africa and senior advisor for the Charter Cities Institute. Small Farm Cities integrates horticulture, aquaculture, infrastructure, and residential housing for ownership and wealth creation throughout Africa. Jon is a visionary leader in agribusiness, municipal infrastructure development, and applied technology systems. His impactful work spans multiple African nations, where he has spearheaded infrastructure, agribusiness, and e-commerce initiatives to help foster economic growth. In our conversation, we unpack his hyper-affordable agribusiness concept, the importance of systems solutions to systems problems like poverty, and how Jon came to be building new cities in Africa. Discover his definition of affordable housing, what is stunting the development of African countries, and why formal ownership of housing and land is so crucial for Africa. We delve into why building and storing wealth is a core value of Small Farm Cities, how the company plans to scale, leveraging the industrial sector for development, realizing Africa's economic potential, and much more! Jon also shares details about the success of their pilot project in Malawi and how the concept is resulting in larger projects he is currently working on. To find out how Jon is driving housing accessibility and development in Africa, tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jon Vandenheuvel on LinkedIn Small Farm Cities Africa Risk Dashboard Leif Van Grinsven on LinkedIn Starlink Rio Tinto The Mystery of Capital National Planning Commission Thomas Munthali on LinkedIn MIT School of Architecture and Urban...

Ethiopia's Developmental State model has garnered attention for its ambitious goals and efforts to transform the economy, but has it been successful? Joining us today is Tom Lavers, Senior lecturer in Politics and Development at The University of Manchester, to help navigate this complex topic. Tom is a dedicated researcher whose passion lies in exploring the intricate interplay between social and political dynamics amid structural shifts. His research is characterized by a nuanced investigation into the changing socio-political landscapes and the evolving relationships between states and societies. In our conversation, we delve into Ethiopia's political coalition shifts and explore the government's achievements and setbacks in fostering development. We discuss Ethiopia’s complex historical roots, how statehood has significantly shaped Ethiopia's development trajectory, the distributive crisis in Ethiopia, and the factors contributing to Ethiopia's current challenges. Gain valuable insights into the country’s industrial landscape, developmental strategies, geographical equity hurdles, urbanization shifts, and much more. Tune in for a comprehensive exploration of Ethiopia's developmental journey with expert Tom Lavers! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Tom Lavers on LinkedIn The University of Manchester The Global Development Institute (GDI) Ethiopia's Developmental State: Political Order and Distributive Crisis Seeing like a State The NYU Marron Institute Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on X

In today's episode of Charter Cities, we're honored to welcome Lant Pritchett, a distinguished economist and a thought leader in development economics. Our deep-dive conversation will focus on the critical topic of growth diagnostics, exploring the complex challenges policymakers face in developing nations. Lant will illuminate the importance of identifying impactful actions for growth, emphasizing the need for rigorous debate and evidence-based decision-making. We'll also scrutinize the limitations of traditional development metrics like the "dollar a day" measure and consider alternative, more effective approaches. We'll also investigate innovative solutions like charter cities as a mechanism for fostering sustainable growth by addressing institutional challenges. Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: RISE Harvard Kennedy School Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

On today's Charter Cities episode, host Jeffrey Mason is joined by colleagues Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney to unpack the New Africa's Bad Urban Laws project. This initiative dissects laws in African cities hindering growth and community well-being. Additionally, Jeffrey reminds listeners of the upcoming Africa's New City Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The team dives deep, discussing the reasons for and effects of detrimental urban laws, using instances like Zambia's land ownership as an example. Tune in for an insightful discussion on urban policies in Africa. Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Africas New Cities Summit Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

Coming up on today's episode of Charter Cities, we have a very special guest joining host Mark Lutter: Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of community building and the importance of creating meaningful connections within cities and online communities. We explore the challenges and successes of building communities in different contexts, from crypto communities to health tribes. With insights from Vitalik's own experiences and observations, we discuss the value of diversity, the impact of infrastructure on small towns, and the need for community filters. Stay tuned for an enriching conversation on the power of communities in shaping our lives and the future of cities. Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Zuzalu Vitalik on Twitter Vitalik on Medium Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

Host Jeffrey Mason welcomes esteemed guests Martin Rama and Yue Li to another enthralling episode of Charter Cities. Together, they embark on a deep exploration of the intriguing world of private cities, delving into their impact on urban agglomerations and the delicate interplay with local governments. Tune in today to hear their insights on the successes and challenges that private cities face, as well as the potentials that lie ahead. Through engaging discussions and vivid examples, our hosts and guests will illustrate the multifaceted landscape of private urban development. Martin and Yue share their perspectives on how private actors are reshaping urban environments and the intricate dynamics that govern these relationships. As our episode unfolds, the conversation navigates the complexities of urban development, revealing the key facts and insights surrounding this captivating subject. Thanks for listening! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Host Jeffrey Mason welcomes esteemed guests Martin Rama and Yue Li to another enthralling episode of Charter Cities. Together, they embark on a deep exploration of the intriguing world of private cities, delving into their impact on urban agglomerations and the delicate interplay with local governments. Tune in today to hear their insights on the successes and challenges that private cities face, as well as the potentials that lie ahead. Through engaging discussions and vivid examples, our hosts and guests will illustrate the multifaceted landscape of private urban development. Martin and Yue share their perspectives on how private actors are reshaping urban environments and the intricate dynamics that govern these relationships. As our episode unfolds, the conversation navigates the complexities of urban development, revealing the key facts and insights surrounding this captivating subject. Thanks for listening! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Charter Cities Institute Founder and Chairman Mark Lutter returns to the podcast to share his perspective on network states, charter city trends, and more. Mark is also the CEO of Braavos Cities, a charter city development company partnering with local landowners and a leading organizer of Zuzalu, a new pop-up city in Montenegro. Tune in today to hear Mark’s insights on existing network states and why they have either succeeded or failed. You’ll also learn about some of the challenges associated with attracting appropriate talent to cities in order to facilitate growth. Mark shares his experience at Zuzalu and describes the flat hierarchical structure that was made possible there. Using the metaphor of gardening instead of carpentry, Mark illustrates his unique approach to building network cities. Hear how Mark differs from others in the charter city space on the matter of location and his analysis of the global response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. As our episode draws to a close, Mark reveals his thoughts on restarting struggling economies, finding buy-in from local government, and more. Thanks for listening! Key Points From This Episode: Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Mark Lutter Mark Lutter on Twitter Mark Lutter on Medium Mark Lutter Email Braavos Cities Zuzalu

Industrialization has a myriad of consequences that have been studied and speculated upon from the very start. In this episode, Dr. Elliott Green joins us to discuss the impact of industrialization on ethnic identity and diversity. Dr. Green is a political scientist, Africanist, and associate professor in the Department of International Development at The London School of Economics. He is also the author of the book Industrialization and Assimilation and today, we learn about his research and insights on the topic. We delve into the Marx-Geller take on industrialization and find out how Dr. Green conceptualizes it and why he promotes pro-industrialization. We discuss the implications of urbanization without industrialization in Africa and how people use their rural identities as insurance against de-urbanization before investigating the cause of “under-urbanization” in countries like Kenya and Uganda. From the measures of industrialization and its relationship to economic growth and identity formation to the effect of decentralization on assimilation, Dr. Green tackles it all! Tune in for this insightful conversation on all things industrialization and identity. Key Points From This Episode: • Introducing political scientist and Africanist, Dr. Elliott Green • The topic investigated in his book Industrialization and Assimilation: the consequence of Industrialization in terms of ethnic diversity. • How Dr. Green’s take on industrialization differs from that of Marx and Geller. • Why we have differing levels of ethnic diversity across the world. • The implications of urbanization without industrialization in Africa. • Cases of de-urbanization in Africa and how people use their rural identities as insurance against it. • Which African regions have the highest and lowest levels of urbanization. • What can be attributed to the “under-urbanization” of countries like Kenya and Uganda. • Why Dr. Green promotes pro-industrialization and how he conceptualizes industrialization. • The relationship between economic growth and industrialization. • Other measures of industrialization. • How industrialization generates broader processes of identity formation, irrespective of politics and religion. • The overlap of religious and ethnic identities in 20th century Turkey. • Instances where industrialization and nation-building do and don’t go hand in hand. • Government attempts to create ethnically neutral cities. • Why trust is essential for development. • Dr. Green’s take on the “markets make us moral” hypothesis. • To what extent decentralization can affect assimilation or ethnic change. • How the “completion” of industrialization will (or won’t) impact identity. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dr. Elliott Green Industrialization and Assimilation Ha-Joon Chang Magnetic Mountain: Stalinism as a...

We are joined on the show today by Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City, and we have an extensive conversation about the characteristics of Tokyo urbanism, the role of policy in the city, lessons that may be applied to charter cities, and also some of Joe's thoughts on China's current military capabilities. Joe makes a strong argument for avoiding culturally essentialist understandings of Tokyo, and also plots how the history of Tokyo eschews western understandings of urban planning strategies. We touch on the nature of Tokyo neighborhoods, rental and ownership, greenery and beautification, and much more. To finish off this fascinating chat, we turn to Joe's interest and involvement in Chinese affairs and reflect on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on China's ambitions. So to catch all this and more in this lively and eye-opening chat with Joe, press play! Key Points From This Episode: • A look at Joe's two areas of expertise; urbanism in Tokyo and Chinese National security. • Joe unpacks the different forms of relevant urbanism. • The complexity of Tokyo's urbanism and how it stretches typical western paradigms. • The influence of policy and design on Tokyo and its neighborhoods. • Norms around housing, upkeep, and building standards in Tokyo. • Ownership and renting; Joe talks about the importance of landlords in Tokyo. • Shinto practices and the traditions that subtly bind neighborhood communities. • Tokyo residents' attitudes towards the external impacts on individual lifestyles. • Joe's thoughts on greenery in Tokyo. • Lessons from Tokyo for charter cities and Joe's passion for these projects. • The impact of international restrictions on semiconductor exports to China. • Exploring the example that Russia's war with Ukraine is setting for China. • Joe talks a little bit about Ephemerisle and its representation of competitive governance. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Joe McReynolds Joe McReynolds on Twitter Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City China's Evolving Military Strategy Keio University The Jamestown Foundation Ephemerisle Jeffrey Mason Kurtis Lockhart Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

What do high education and low fertility rates have in common? According to today’s guest, Charlie Robertson, they are both positively correlated with economic growth. In today’s episode, Charlie shares the reasons why he believes that countries that don’t get their fertility rates down to below 3 children per woman and those that don’t have adult literacy rates above 70% are doomed to remain trapped in poverty. Join us for a round-the-world trip where Charlie delves into the history of South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the West, and offers his explanation for why some countries have flourished while others have floundered. Charlie is the Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital and the author of The Fastest Billion and The Time-Travelling Economist. Key Points From This Episode: • Understanding economic trends in Africa over the past few years. • Factors that lead to the creation of urban slums. • Charlie’s hypothesis on the link between fertility and economic growth. • What Charlie sees as the optimal fertility rate. • Basic adult literacy rates in Sub-Saharan African countries when they were decolonized. • A statistic that highlights the progress that has been made on the education front globally. • Why education is imperative for growth. • The correlation between education and fertility. • The importance of correctly sequencing educational priorities. • An explanation of the economic success being experienced in the Philippines. • Comparing the rate of economic growth in India and China. • Reasons why Pakistan hasn’t kept up with India’s levels of economic growth. • Explaining Sri Lanka’s downfall. • Charlie’s thoughts on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. • The energy financing issues facing African countries. • Challenges of using green energy as a baseload power source. • Why Charlie believes governments should be focusing on providing electricity to factories rather than homes. • Benefits of decentralized energy systems. • The potential of municipal-level financing approaches. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Charlie Robertson on LinkedIn Renaissance Capital The Fastest Billion The Time-Travelling Economist Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

The West’s misconceptions about Africa are vast, particularly when it comes to the realm of business. Today we are joined by Dr. Deanne de Vries, who has worked across the continent in various capacities for over 30 years. She is currently an advisor for firms looking to enter the African market and is the author of Africa: Open for Business. In this episode, Deanne fills us in on the challenges and the exciting opportunities for doing business in Africa, sharing insights into the evolving tech and startup scenes. We discuss Africa's agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and Deanne breaks down what governments need to do to boost these industries. To hear about the community-centric focus of African business and to find out why on-the-ground integrated local presence is far more valuable than any data, tune in! Key Points From This Episode: • The history of Deanne de Vries’ work in Africa. • The ABC of learning to do business in unfamiliar territory: Appetite, Bandwidth, and Capital. • The evolution of the African tech scene. • The focus of Africa’s startup scene. • The potential for French-speaking West Africa to rise in the tech sector. • What governments can do to boost agricultural productivity in Africa. • The importance of access to the market, in terms of agriculture. • The challenges faced by Africa’s manufacturing industry. • Why African business can’t be judged by statistics alone. • The number one key to success for doing business in Africa. • Deanne shares a case study to illustrate the importance of being on the ground. • The potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area to promote business in Africa. • The greatest Western misunderstandings about doing business in Africa. • The challenge of data accuracy across Africa. • What trumps data when it comes to doing business. • The number one way to de-risk any deal in Africa. • Deanne shares her chocolate chip cookie story. • The impact of China's increasing presence across the continent. • The influence of Turkey, Russia, and the UAE on Africa. • How best to think about market entry in Africa. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dr. Deanne de Vries Dr. Deanne de Vries on LinkedIn Dr. Deanne de Vries on Instagram Africa: Open for Business Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

If you’re a regular listener of this podcast you may be familiar with the term Special Economic Zone (SEZ). In short, SEZ refers to an area where business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country. Typically, these zones will have laws or legal codes and regulations that make it attractive for businesses to relocate there. Today on the show you’ll learn all about these zones and more as we sit down with Joseph McKinney, CEO of the Catawba Digital Economic Zone (DEZ), a new SEZ established by the Catawba nation based in the Carolinas. In our conversation, we break down the economic and philosophical objectives of the Catawba DEZ and its unique legal and regulatory frameworks as well as how this zone is integrated into tribal governance. We also discuss the Catawba DEZ’s special focus on FinTech, digital assets, advancing the digital economy, and why this gives them a competitive edge. Learn about the work they’re doing to explore physical infrastructure for data centers, supercomputers, and crypto mining, and why Joseph believes this has the most promising revenue-generating potential. Today’s episode takes a deep dive into SEZs and DEZs and breaks down how they can benefit indigenous people when implemented correctly, as well as what it takes to institute good governance. To learn more, make sure you tune in for key insights on this expansive and important topic! Key Points From This Episode: ● Get to know today’s guest, Joseph McKinney, his background, and how he became CEO at Catawba Digital Economic Zone (DEZ). ● An overview of the Startup Societies Network and how it was founded. ● A breakdown of DEZs and how they work. ● The regulatory advantages of DEZs. ● The authority that Native Americans have within their states and how that applies to regulatory governance. ● How DEZs are creating a middle ground for tribal governance and regulation. ● How the Catawba tribe benefits from the DEZ in the Carolinas. ● Some of the physical infrastructure that they’re expecting to create, including data centers and supercomputers. ● An overview of how the Catawba Digital Economic Zone is creating regulatory certainty for Web3, crypto, blockchain, and fintech companies. ● How digital economic zones are expected to fit into existing trends within the tech industry. ● The most important value proposition made by the Catawba DEZ. ● Why this type of SEZ needs a combination of startup culture mobility, along with a secure foundation of good governance. ● How special economic zones are helping the United States improve its business environment. ● How the Catawba DEZ in the Carolinas, hopes to compete with Delaware. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Joseph McKinney on LinkedIn Startup Societies Network Catawba Digital Economic Zone Forbes: This Indian Nation Is Setting Up A Special Economic Zone For Crypto,...

Stefan Dercon is the author of Gambling on Development, in which he details his theory of the elite bargain framework for development in low-income countries. Stefan is a Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford, and also serves as the Director of the Center for the Study of African Economies. Prior to his current academic posts, he has extensive experience in the world of policy, as the Chief Economist at the Department for International Development and as an advisor to the UK’s Foreign Secretary. In our conversation with Stefan in today's show, we get to delve deep into his elite bargain idea, the impact of effective altruism, the need for self-awareness within governments, and how far lessons from certain examples can be applied to other states. We also get to talk about political settlements and how his framework fits into the context of current popular theories and explanations for economic growth. So to catch all this and a whole lot more, be sure to listen in to this great chat with Stefan Dercon! Key Points From This Episode: • Stefan's perspective on the different skills needed for policy implementation and idea generation. • The challenges of communicating the need for policy experimentation to politicians. • Some key ingredients to effective government meetings and common mistakes that Stefan has seen. • Examples from Stefan of the kind of practical implementations he has seen used well in governance. • Stefan shares some examples that underline his book's main thesis about successful development. • An approach to determining a country's emerging development bargain. • Our guest unpacks the three conditions for development bargains noted in his book. • Why a certain model for development cannot be expected to have the same success in a different context. • The impact that studying Asia later in his career has had on Stefan's frameworks and philosophy. • Stefan talks about his findings on possible lessons from urbanization in China. • Issues that Stefan has with the idea and terminology of political settlements. • Contrasting Stefan's argument with the thesis of Why Nations Fail. • Suggestions on how to motivate elites to engage and gamble on development. • Stefan's personal perspective on economic growth and its role in poverty alleviation. • Why meaningful progress is dependent on a certain amount of risk. • How Stefan would suggest spending money on growth interventions and lessons from Africa in the 1990s. • What the situation in Sri Lanka right now teaches us about investment in people. • The danger of consolidating authoritarianism in countries such as China and Rwanda. • How the mobility of a burgeoning middle class can impact the development of a state. • Stefan weighs in on the potential scalability problem in a technocracy. • Some of Stefan's reflections on his time at DFID and its challenges. • Looking to the horizon with Stefan and his forthcoming projects. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Stefan Dercon Gambling on Development

Development is one of the major challenges of our time. Unfortunately, it’s often approached in a way that does more harm than good. Efosa Ojomo has a better solution, and he’s here today to share it. Efosa is the leader of the Global Prosperity Research Group at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, the co-author of The Prosperity Paradox, and the author of the upcoming book, The Prosperity Process. In this episode, Efosa explains how his first foray in the development space (building wells in Nigeria) catalyzed a journey of discovery which led him to realize that, in order to truly change the world, we need to implement pull strategies instead of push strategies and focus on market creating innovations. He shares some examples of what these innovations look like and we discuss what it takes to be a market creating innovator, how regulation impacts innovation, a new way to think about corruption, and more! Make sure to tune in today. Key Points From This Episode: • The lesson Efosa learned through his first foray in the development world. • Definitions of the three types of innovation that Efosa and his co-authors explain in depth in their book, The Prosperity Paradox. • Efosa shares the story of Mo Ibrhaim to highlight the power of market creating innovations. • Push versus pull development strategies and the problem with the former. • The story of Indomie Noodles as an example of the huge amount of change that can be made through the implementation of a pull strategy. • How a proliferation of government agencies negatively impacts a country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. • The type of person who is best suited to be a leader in the market creating innovation space. • Aid for developing countries: how the approach needs to change. • Efosa explains why good laws are not enough to create thriving communities. • Key factors that resulted in the rise and fall of Venice. • How Efosa believes we should be tackling the issue of corruption. • A tribute to Clayton Christenson. • The Prosperity Process; Efosa’s future book. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Efosa Ojomo Efosa Ojomo on Twitter Global Prosperity Research Group at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation The Prosperity Paradox Mo Ibrahim Gambling on Development Yuen Yuen Ang Why Nations Fail The Innovator's Dilemma