Description:

How does the World Bank understand and diagnose issues in addressing inequalities, promoting sustainable growth and reducing poverty? Join us for a conversation with Vijayendra (Biju) Rao, a Lead Economist in the Development Research Group of the World Bank. In conversation with Helen Tilley, Associate Professor of History at Northwestern University, Rao will discuss his work at the intersection of scholarship and practice, through which he integrates his training in economics with theories and methods from anthropology, sociology and political science to study the social, cultural and political context of extreme poverty in developing countries. 

In his early work, Rao pioneered empirical research in Economics on dowries, domestic violence and sex work. His recent work has focused on participatory approaches to development, deliberative democracy, and voice and agency among the poor. He is a proponent of mixing qualitative and quantitative methods to make economics more reflexive, and to better understand and diagnose issues in development. Learn more about his work >> 

Refreshments will be provided beginning at 3:45 p.m. 

About the Elliott Speaker Series
As part of the Elliott Scholars Program, the Buffett Institute invites academics, practitioners and activists working in areas related to international development to the Northwestern campus for short residencies. While on campus, these guests engage with the Elliott Scholars cohort and the wider Northwestern community.

Please note that 720 University Place is not an ADA-accessible space. Increasing physical access to buildings and facilities is a goal of the University, but not all buildings and venues have been updated.