William R. Cline

Senior Fellow Emeritus
Finance, capital flows, trade and development; currently investigating the differential impact of global warming on agriculture in rich and developing countries.
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Education: Mr. Cline graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1963, and received his MA (1964) and Ph.D. (1969) in economics from Yale University.
Media Contact: Jessica Brinton

William R. Cline is a senior fellow emeritus at the Center for Global Development with a joint appointment at the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics. His recent books include The United States as a Debtor Nation and Trade Policy and Global Poverty. He has been a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute since its inception in 1981. Previously he was senior fellow, the Brookings Institution (1973-81); deputy director of development and trade research, office of the assistant secretary for international affairs, US Treasury Department (1971-73); Ford Foundation visiting professor in Brazil (1970-71); and lecturer and assistant professor of economics at Princeton University (1967-70). During 1996-2001 while on leave from the Institute, Cline was deputy managing director and chief economist of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) in Washington, DC.

New Popular Working Papers Books Other CGD Pubs Events Selected Works
  • This CGD Brief, based on Global Warming and Agriculture: Impact Estimates by Country, by senior fellow William Cline, explores the implications of global warming for world agriculture, with special attention to China, India, Brazil, and the poor countries of the tropical belt in Africa and Latin...

  • William Cline, senior fellow jointly at the Center for Global Development and the Peterson Institute for International Economics presents his book on the impact of global warming on agriculture.

  • While the threat of global warming is increasingly accepted, little attention has been paid to the likely impact at the country level, especially in the developing world. In this new book, Bill Cline, a joint senior fellow at CGD and the Peterson Institute for International Economics, provides...

  • The collapse of the Doha trade talks puts at risk one of the rich world's most important commitments to developing countries: to reform policies that make it harder for poor countries to participate in global commerce. Trade has the potential to be a significant force for reducing global poverty by...

  • Trade has the potential to raise incomes worldwide. But trade creates losers as well as winners. This Rich World, Poor World brief provides an accessible introduction to the impact of global trade on U.S. jobs and suggests policies that the U.S. can pursue to maximize the gains and minimize the...

  • With foreign investment in the U.S. increasingly in the spotlight, this working paper by William Cline explores the U.S. external deficit and the fact that the U.S. relies on foreign lending to finance its trade deficit. Cline emphasizes the dangers of a hard landing for the U.S., and why this...

  • Senior Fellow William R. Cline outlines a "grand bargain" that negotiators can strike at the upcoming "Doha Development Round" that would ahieve increased trade liberalization.

  • How is America's debt of 22% of GDP and its $670 billion trade deficit sustainable? What are the challenges to the rest of the world as the US’ fiscal accounts and exchange rates adjust to correct this imbalance? In this important new book, CGD/IIE Senior Fellow William R. Cline argues that...

  • In this posthumously published working paper, Dick Sabot argues that the U.S. external deficit is putting at risk the welfare of poor people in developing countries. This accessible paper draws on a forthcoming book, The U.S. as a Debtor Nation, by William Cline, and has been updated to include...

  • Trade Policy and Global Poverty by William Cline examines how changes in trade policies in the United States and other industrial countries could help reduce poverty in developing countries. Cline first reviews the extent of global poverty and its relationship to trade and growth. He then examines...

  • Global Warming and Agriculture: Impact Estimates by Country - Sep 12, 2007

    While the threat of global warming is increasingly accepted, little attention has been paid to the likely impact at the country level, especially in the developing world. In this new book, Bill Cline, a joint senior fellow at CGD and the Peterson Institute for International Economics, provides...

  • The United States as a Debtor Nation - Sep 19, 2005

    How is America's debt of 22% of GDP and its $670 billion trade deficit sustainable? What are the challenges to the rest of the world as the US’ fiscal accounts and exchange rates adjust to correct this imbalance? In this important new book, CGD/IIE Senior Fellow William R. Cline argues that...

  • Trade Policy and Global Poverty - Jun 1, 2004

    Trade Policy and Global Poverty by William Cline examines how changes in trade policies in the United States and other industrial countries could help reduce poverty in developing countries. Cline first reviews the extent of global poverty and its relationship to trade and growth. He then examines...

  • Global Warming and Agriculture: New Country Estimates Show Developing Countries Face Declines in Agriculture Productivity - Sep 17, 2007

    This CGD Brief, based on Global Warming and Agriculture: Impact Estimates by Country, by senior fellow William Cline, explores the implications of global warming for world agriculture, with special attention to China, India, Brazil, and the poor countries of the tropical belt in Africa and Latin...

  • Global Trade, the United States, and Developing Countries - Jun 15, 2006

    The collapse of the Doha trade talks puts at risk one of the rich world's most important commitments to developing countries: to reform policies that make it harder for poor countries to participate in global commerce. Trade has the potential to be a significant force for reducing global poverty by...

  • Global Trade, Jobs and Labor Standards - Jun 15, 2006

    Trade has the potential to raise incomes worldwide. But trade creates losers as well as winners. This Rich World, Poor World brief provides an accessible introduction to the impact of global trade on U.S. jobs and suggests policies that the U.S. can pursue to maximize the gains and minimize the...

  • Achieving a Grand Bargain in the Doha Round - Dec 12, 2005

    Senior Fellow William R. Cline outlines a "grand bargain" that negotiators can strike at the upcoming "Doha Development Round" that would ahieve increased trade liberalization.

  • The United States as a Debtor Nation - Sep 19, 2005

    How is America's debt of 22% of GDP and its $670 billion trade deficit sustainable? What are the challenges to the rest of the world as the US’ fiscal accounts and exchange rates adjust to correct this imbalance? In this important new book, CGD/IIE Senior Fellow William R. Cline argues that...

  • Trading Up: Trade Policy and Global Poverty - Sep 1, 2003

    This policy brief is a preview of the analysis and recommendations in Trade Policy and Global Poverty, by William R. Cline.

  • Trading Up: Strengthening AGOA’s Development Potential - Jun 1, 2003

    This brief assesses the impact of AGOA to date and recommends measures to improve its development potential.

  • World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change - Dec 3, 2009

    Today's development challenges are complicated by climate change, a reality that threatens all countries, particularly developing ones. The World Development Report (WDR) 2010 aims to understand what climate change means for development.

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