Countries interpret the global economic crisis

by Emily Kallaur

Although the effects of the global economic crisis are being felt around the world, it’s interesting to hear how different the impact has been from country to country. A conference I attended recently brought together financial management professionals from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to share country perspectives.

In the developed world, the crisis has prompted people to question their most basic assumptions about the roles of governments and markets. There is a sense that there has been a fundamental and permanent shift and that capitalism will never be the same again. This has also created a window of opportunity for dramatic policy reform.

Listening to colleagues from developing countries, I had the impression that although the effect of the crisis has been large, its implications have been more mundane. Export revenues have fallen. Some are worried that development assistance could decline. Many countries are anxious to diversify their economies away from dependence on oil, tourism, or a single commodity like tobacco.

But there wasn’t an overwhelming sense that these problems are fundamentally different in nature from problems faced in the past. Reforms have been underway for some time and implementation of those reforms continues to be relevant.

There is, on the other hand, a more skeptical attitude toward policies recommended by the countries that created the crisis.

Starting the team blog

We’re starting this team blog to engage our stakeholders in conversation. It is a way to let you know what we are doing and hear your thoughts about ICT4D and aid effectiveness.

Our programs have a wide audience. Just this week Emily Kallaur is in Miami at the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management annual conference. Nadia Afrin is giving the keynote address for a Web cast on South Asia and nanotechnology for development. Steve Davenport, Francis Dogo, and Djamila Kerim are conducting a needs assessment in Haiti as part of the aid management program. All of these activities are part of our effort to use information and communications technology to reduce poverty.

The aid management program has been implemented in Africa and Latin America. Here you can see some government staffers in Burkina Faso working with the Aid Management Platform. The photo was taken by Anna who writes on European policy.

As an organization, we have evolved since our founding in 2000. In the coming months, we plan to integrate our programs more. Look here to find out how we go about it and to discuss other issues related to development and aid effectiveness