A Debate on William Easterly’s New Book: The Tyranny of Experts

Featuring
William Easterly
Professor of Economics and Co-director, Development Research Institute, New York University

Vs.
Owen Barder
Senior Fellow and Director for Europe, Center for Global Development

Moderated by
Nancy Birdsall
President, Center for Global Development

Why does poverty persist across so much of the world, despite billions of dollars in international aid and the efforts of development professionals? William Easterly’s answer, as proposed in his new book, The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor, is a lack of respect for liberty—not just on the part of governments of impoverished countries but also, more provocatively, on the part of the development experts. Owen Barder, director of CGD in Europe and a noted development expert himself, disagrees. A vote of the audience will determine who wins the debate, which will also be streamed live.