UNU-WIDER WIDER Conference on Country Role Models for Development Success

A number of countries are cited more often than others as examples of development success. These countries are believed to have policies and institutions that could be instructive to less successful countries both within their own regions, and elsewhere in the developing world. As such they might be said to constitute ‘role models of development’. This is not to imply that these countries have been successful across every dimension (growth, poverty reduction, democratization, etc.), or that they have not had periods of failure and crisis. Indeed, their ability to overcome crises and to move successfully forward constitutes part of their overall development record.

Based on a global sample of countries, the conference examines individual cases of development success to understand better its root causes. It then seeks to assess what experiences might be instructive, and in what ways, to today’s less successful countries.

The conference is intended for researchers and technical advisors/policymakers. Participants attending UNU-WIDER conferences typically come from universities, research institutes, government departments, or international organizations. The conference is open to advanced PhD students in economics or other social science disciplines.