Growth Lab

Growth Versus Development: The Peruvian Example
2026-04-16 12:15 - 13:15 (America/New_York) | Wexner W-330
Development Talks

Despite significant political volatility and external shocks Peru has been able to maintain remarkable macroeconomic stability. At the same time, enormous deficiencies remain regarding access to basic services, inclusion, and social and political development. What explains the discordance between Peru’s macroeconomic success and the country’s failure in terms of development? What might an inclusive growth strategy look like for Peru? What do we learn about tradeoffs and challenges between growth and development? In this Development Talk, Roberto Chang, Professor in the Department of Economics at Rutgers University and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, will discuss his recently published books “Economia Peruana ¿Milagro o Ficción?” and “Los 10 Números Que Todo Peruano Debe Conocer” and explore relevant lessons for Peru and the developing world.

Speaker: Roberto Chang, Professor of Economics at Rutgers University, Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research

Moderator: Ricardo Villasmil, Senior Research Fellow, Growth Lab

Whether attending in person or virtually, please register in advance. Room attendance is permitted for the Harvard community. Boxed lunch will be provided at the end of the event. The Zoom session is open to the public.

Speaker Bio: Roberto Chang is a Professor of Economics at Rutgers University and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Before joining Rutgers in 2000, he was a Research Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He has also been an Assistant Professor at NYU and a Visiting Professor at Princeton. Chang has published extensively on monetary economics, exchange rate policy, and financial crises. He has served in the editorial boards of the Journal of International Economics and the Journal of Development Economics, and as a member of the Economics Panel of the National Science Foundation. Chang is a native of Peru and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Growth Lab’s “Development Talks” is a series of conversations with policymakers and academics working on economic growth and development in countries, regions, states, and cities in the US and around the world. The seminar provides a platform for practitioners and researchers to discuss both economic growth and development and analytical work centered on policy.

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Ecuador: Economic Reactivation at the Global Crossroads and the New Commercial Era
2026-04-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Wexner W-330
Development Talks

After a decade of stagnation, Ecuador finds itself at a critical yet promising moment to revitalize its economy. With its recent return to international markets and progress in strategic trade negotiations — such as those with the United States — the country has the opportunity to launch a new stage of economic and productive development.

In this Development Talk, Minister Luis Alberto Jaramillo will discuss Ecuador’s economic outlook and, in particular, how, amid a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions and the reconfiguration of global alliances, Ecuador seeks to redefine its positioning to attract investment, boost production, and secure a future of sustained growth and stability.

Speaker: Min. Luis Alberto Jaramillo, Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, and Investment, Ecuador

Moderator: Sebastián Bustos, Senior Research Fellow

Whether attending in person or virtually, please register in advance. Room attendance is permitted for the Harvard community. Boxed lunch will be provided at the end of the event. The Zoom session is open to the public.

Bio: Business leader with more than 30 years of experience in the industrial sector. Industrial and Systems Engineer from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM). Master’s in Marketing from the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL). Expertise in investment projects, productivity, quality, continuous improvement, process analysis and reengineering, process management, information technology, integrated management systems, management indicators, and talent development/coaching. Within his experience in developing successful strategies, he has served as General Manager, Commercial Director, and Advisor at industrial companies such as Industria Cartonera Ecuatoriana S.A. and Grupasa Grupo Papelero S.A. He taught at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), delivering courses on industrial engineering, international marketing, and market research; at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences, and the Institute of Humanistic and Economic Sciences. He has participated in executive programs on continuous improvement and process management at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and the Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE). He previously served as Minister of Economy and Finance and as Director General of the National Customs Service of Ecuador (Senae).

The Growth Lab’s “Development Talks” is a series of conversations with policymakers and academics working on economic growth and development in countries, regions, states, and cities in the US and around the world. The seminar provides a platform for practitioners and researchers to discuss both economic growth and development and analytical work centered on policy.

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The Startup State: What Drives Economies That Innovate
2026-04-28 12:30 - 13:30 | Allison Dining Room – Taubman 5th Floor
Development Talks

What does entrepreneurship really mean, and why does it matter? America has a unique entrepreneurial edge. Its innovation engine, shaped by culture, markets, and policy has powered some of the world’s most transformative Ideas. What makes it different, and why does it continue to matter today? Join us for a conversation with Howard Wolk (MC/MPA 2002), a longtime entrepreneur who has experienced America’s startup ecosystem firsthand. We will dive into Wolk’s book, “Launchpad Republic: America’s Entrepreneurial Edge and Why It Matters”, the “secret sauce” of entrepreneurship, and an examination of the past, present, and future of American innovation.

We’ll explore big questions at the heart of innovation:

Does government fuel entrepreneurship, or get in its way?

What insights did Joseph Schumpeter offer on creative destruction, and why are they still relevant?

What can other countries learn from the U.S. model of innovation?

Speaker: Howard Wolk Co-CEO of The Cross Country Group (CCG)

Moderator: Yariv Gabay, Wolk fellow in the Center for Public Leadership and an MC/MPA 2026 candidate at HKS

Whether attending in person or virtually, please register in advance. Room attendance is permitted for the Harvard community. Lunch will be provided. The Zoom session is open to the public.

Bio: Howard L. Wolk is Co-President of The Cross Country Group (CCG). Howard began his career at the New York City law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and then joined the White House as Associate Counsel for the transition team during the Clinton Administration, also serving as a member of Vice President Gore’s Task Force on Reinventing Government. He received B.A. and B.S.Ec. (Wharton School) degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, a J.D. degree from Columbia Law School, and an M.P.A. degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he served as a Senior Fellow. Howard is an active member of non-profit and social entrepreneurship organizations, including the Boston Bridges Initiative. Most recently, Howard is also the co-author of Launchpad Republic: America’s Entrepreneurial Edge and Why It Matters (Aug. 2022, Wiley)

The Growth Lab’s “Development Talks” is a series of conversations with policymakers and academics working on economic growth and development in countries, regions, states, and cities in the US and around the world. The seminar provides a platform for practitioners and researchers to discuss both economic growth and development and analytical work centered on policy. This Development Talk is co-sponsored by the Center for Public Leadership at HKS.

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