Pardee Center Speaker Series
A compilation of speakers and presentations related to the RAND Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition.
Featured Speakers and Presentations
Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Human Security
Adil Najam, Director, Boston University's Frederick S. Pardee Center
Professor of International Relations and Professor, Geography and the Environment
Santa Monica, CA
July 30, 2008
Hard and Soft Futures Thinking
Tom Ling, Director of Evaluation and Audit, RAND Europe
Santa Monica, CA
May 20, 2008
When are “softer” futures approaches such as scenarios most appropriate and effective? Drawing on recent experience with several RAND Europe futures efforts, Tim Ling described when, why and how these softer and intuitive approaches can be the most appropriate means for informing policy decisions.
Futures Thinking in Europe
Michael Hallsworth, RAND Europe
Santa Monica, CA
April 1, 2008
This talk provided an overview of the current demand for research around futures thinking in Europe, particularly scenario techniques; showed what RAND Europe has already accomplished in this area; and indicated some possible opportunities for collaboration with the RAND Pardee Center.
International Development Speaker Series
January
Service Delivery in Fragile States: What Remains at the End of the Day?
Steven Commins, UCLA
Santa Monica, CA
January 15, 2008
A world expert on development in fragile states as both a seasoned practitioner and recognized theorist and researcher, Steve Commins highlighted several challenges in health service delivery in fragile states, including fractionalization of donors and donor services, problems creating trust and a social contract, and difficulties stemming from a nascent security and justice system.
February
Panel Discussion on RAND’s research on India
Krishna Kumar, RAND, Neeraj Sood, RAND, Arka Ghosh, PRGS
Santa Monica, CA
February 12, 2008
The panelists discussed the key research questions facing India's public policy, how RAND projects have focused on different aspects of these issues and what potential research proposals or ideas might fit with RAND's future research on the subcontinent.
March
Crises? What Crises?
Jeffrey Nugent, USC
Santa Monica, CA
March 6, 2008
Recent research convincingly shows that crises beget reform. Although the consensus is that economic crises foster macroeconomic stabilization, it is silent on which types of crises cause which types of reform. Jeff Nugent presents evidence that in general political considerations (political crises as well as political institutions) are more important determinants of structural reforms than economic crises.
April
Panel Discussion on RAND's China-Related Research Agenda
Jim Smith, RAND, Charles Wolf, RAND, Bill Overholt, RAND
Santa Monica, CA
April 1, 2008
Panelists discussed the key research questions facing China's public policy, how RAND projects have focused on different aspects of these issues and what potential research proposals or ideas might fit with RAND's future research in China.
May
Do Consumer Price Subsidies Really Improve Nutrition? Evidence from China
Robert Jensen, Brown University & NBER
Santa Monica, CA
May 9, 2008
Food subsidy programs are often supported on the argument that they improve household nutritional consumption. After developing economic theory of the “Giffen Good,” Robert Jensen conducts a randomized controlled trial on food prices in China and finds Giffen behavior in subsistence consumption–indicating that the nutritional impact caused by a subsidy is at best extremely small, and for some households actually negative.
Economic Development and Trends in South East Asia - Challenges and Prospects from an ISEAS Perspective
Omkar Shrestha, ISEAS & ASEAN
Santa Monica, CA
May 23, 2008
Dr Shrestha discussed the research activities of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) which focuses on countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the region's relevance, importance and strengths, its conventional and newly emerging risks and weaknesses, their implications beyond the ASEAN region, and development opportunities and challenges in the context of Viet Nam.
June
Nation-building Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq
Francis Fukuyama, RAND Board of Governors, Johns-Hopkins SAIS
Santa Monica, CA
June 20, 2008
Building development-promoting governmental structures has seen mottled success in the early 21st Century. In his address, Francis Fukuyama discussed the origins, current status, and challenges of the governance agenda in international development; illustrated several governance-driven strategies; and outlined a future agenda for governance in development.
July
The Missing Middle: Innovating Development Finance for Small and Medium Sized Businesses
Glenn Yago, Malkin Institute
Santa Monica, CA
July 31, 2008
SMEs (small and medium-sized businesses) are a critical source of economic growth; they develop new products, services and business models that spur innovation and forge dynamic clusters linked to global markets through trade and investment. Glen Yago explored the barriers to SME development and potential methods to SME finance and capacity-building that might help bridge the “missing middle.”
August
Panel Discussion on RAND's International HIV/AIDS-Related Research Agenda
Glenn Wagner, RAND, Katie De Rose, RAND, Oberto Martinez, RAND
Santa Monica, CA
August 18, 2008
Panelists discussed the scope of RAND research on HIV/AIDS in Africa and Latin America, research designs for select projects, and preliminary findings. Suggestions were made for employing robust decision-making tools for work on futures modeling for various aspects of the disease.
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