Institute of Global Affairs

The Institute of Global Affairs (IGA) video competition on migration with the online video platform Chainy will announce the winners on November 25 at an exciting student-led LSE event Beyond Tolerance: Citizenship, Diversity & Constructive Conflict. Prizes are sponsored by the Open Society Foundation. Come and join us on November 25; to register, please click here. Watch our video shortlist here. 

As part of the INET Transformation Commission chaired by Nobel Laureates Michael Spence and Joseph Stiglitz, IGA hosted the 2nd Workshop on “Avoiding the Middle Income Trap” on November 16-17. This policy research initiative examines the massive dual challenge of emerging economies to transform themselves into advanced economies and at the same time adjusting to technological change and the increasingly binding environmental and social constraints. The project brings together some of the world’s leading academics and policymakers from a broad range of emerging economies with international financial institutions such as Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Inter-American Development Bank, as well at the International Monetary Fund. Workshop participants brainstormed over a number of background papers (see Professor Aghion during presentation) and case studies on individual countries that have recently transitioned from middle to high income status. A final report is expected in about 18 months.

The IGA hosted a joint lecture with CEPR on November 17th celebrating the launch of the eBook, Refugees and Economic Migrants: facts, policies and challenges.  A panel of experts including Christian Dustmann, Professor of Economics at University College London and Director of CReAM; Giovanni Facchini, Professor of Economics at the University of Nottingham; Francesco Fasani, Lecturer at the School of Economics and Finance, Queen Mary - University of London and Philippe Legrain, Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Institute at LSE and founder of the think-tank Open Political Economy Network (OPEN). Panellists focused on some of the key yet less researched aspects of migration policy: the politically sensitive social-cultural dimension of public perception on migration and the role of the media. 

IGA PowerBreakfast series held a debate onThe Fall of Technocracy on November 8, inspired by Sebastian Mallaby's new bibliography of former US Federal Reserve Governor Alan Greenspan The Man Who Knew. After author's introduction and LSE Professor Charles Goodhart's remarks, the discussion focussed on how the loss of trust in experts after the 2008/9 global financial crisis has paved the way to what we today observe a surge in populism and "post-truth" and what to do about it. How much political mingling and power an independent central bank should have?  Can tools from the business executive world be used to manage the incentives of central bankers, for example through strict term limits? What role the social media has played to start raising taboos about central banks' expert thus unchallengeable policies? How can the trust in experts regained? The PowerBreakfast is a series brings together lead academics, policy makers, business leaders and media representatives. 

The Great Convergence: information technology and the new globalisation

Thursday 24 November 2016, 18.30, Wolfson Theatre

Globalisation is now driven by fast-paced technological change and the fragmentation of production. Its impact is more sudden, more selective, more unpredictable, and more uncontrollable. As Richard Baldwin, Director of the Centre for Economic Policy Research,shows inThe Great Convergence, the new globalisation presents rich and developing nations alike with unprecedented policy challenges in their efforts to maintain reliable growth and social cohesion. More information here. 

Rethinking Global Finance Initiative 

The Rethinking Global Finance   initiative, joint between the LSE Institute of Global Affairs and the Institute of New Economic Thinking, aims to strengthen the research capacity and policy voice of key emerging economies. Only on this basis can a truly global and inclusive financial architecture be developed.

Global Migration Initiative

The Global Migration Initiative aims to find workable policy solutions, both emergency measures and long term thinking, for the truly global and urgent challenge of international migration.

Global Climate Initiative

More information soon.

Global Political and Corporate Governance Initiative

More information soon.

The IGA aims to build a vibrant intellectual environment for original, rigorous and significant thinking and broader impact in London, but also to form an alliance of centres of excellence in research and policy thinking in emerging economies. By employing multidisciplinary approaches and encouraging evidence-based policy making, it also aspires to promote deeper understanding and peer-to-peer transfer of knowledge across emerging and developing economies. The IGA wants to offer a 'safe space' that is open, fair and transparent and where students, government, private sector and civil society from all around the world can meet to address the challenges of the 21st century.

More information about the IGA here.