An interview with Gerry Helleiner - Part 1/2
Channel: UNU-WIDER
Date: 2015-12-11

In this interview (Part 1 of 2), Gerry Helleiner, one of the pioneers of UNU-WIDER’s research programme, explains the origins of the work on stabilization and its critique of the prevailing ‘Washington consensus’ orthodoxy. He cites the check list of questions for developing countries to address to the IMF an early example of the Institutes policy relevance.

The interview is part of a series illuminating the intellectual history of UNU-WIDER prepared in association with its 30th anniversary. Helleiner illustrates how UNU-WIDER established itself as an important independent source of expertise and networking on development and for Southern experts and practitioners. 

Helleiner remarks that the brilliant work on hunger by Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze was itself sufficient justification for the founding of UNU-WIDER, concluding with a ‘balance sheet’ and good wishes for the next 30 years of research.

See also:
• Lance Taylor Varieties of Stabilization Experience: https://www.wider.unu.edu/publication/varieties-stabilization-experience
• The early work by on The Political Economy of Hunger by Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze: https://www.wider.unu.edu/publication/political-economy-hunger-0

More about UNU-WIDER: http://www.wider.unu.edu/
UNU-WIDER 30th Anniversary conference: 'Mapping the Future of Development Economics': http://bit.ly/1S4Fiuk