The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma Ep 379: Lant Pritchett Is on Team Prosperity
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Apr 29, 2024 Economist Lant Pritchett discusses deep questions in development economics, challenging narrow focuses. He reflects on childhood influences, data analysis integrity, and education's impact on growth. Critiquing programmatic approaches, he advocates for systemic transformations for true prosperity. Highlighting talent clustering and learning emphasis for global progress, he explores state capability and power dynamics in organizational development.
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Outsider's Advantage
- People from non-elite backgrounds often have a wider vision and a greater hunger for truth.
- They don't take things for granted and are less likely to become complacent, unlike those born into the system.
Hazlitt's Influence
- Lant Pritchett's interest in economics began with reading Henry Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson at age 15.
- The book was a 'gateway drug', sparking his fascination with economics' ability to reveal unseen forces.
Mission to Argentina
- Lant Pritchett's Mormon mission in Argentina exposed him to poverty, hyperinflation, and authoritarianism.
- This experience solidified his purpose: using economics to understand and improve the lives of the poor.