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Is There A Development Economics Anymore?

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  • Ravi Kanbur

    (Cornell University)

Abstract

Development economics has been thought of a distinct sub-field of economics since the 1950s. Nobel prizes have been awarded for work in development economics, university faculty lines are designated for the sub-field, and development economics centers have been set up with world over. However, I argue that the empirical trend of sharp fall in the number of countries in the official “low income” category, and the methodological trend of homogenization of economics methodology across the board means that development economics can no longer easily stand on its own as a sub-field. While institutional inertia will keep things going for quite a while, I think the distinction of development economics as a separate sub-field of economics will simply wither on the vine.

Suggested Citation

  • Ravi Kanbur, 2025. "Is There A Development Economics Anymore?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 37(2), pages 391-397, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:37:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1057_s41287-024-00677-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-024-00677-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Sanjay G. Reddy, 2012. "Randomise This! On Poor Economics," Journal, Review of Agrarian Studies, vol. 2(2), pages 60-73, July-Dece.
    5. Geof Wood & Meera Tiwari & Ravi Kanbur & Andy Sumner, 2012. "Poor Countries Or Poor People? Development Assistance And The New Geography Of Global Poverty," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(6), pages 686-695, August.
    6. Reddy, Sanjay G., 2012. "Randomise This! On Poor Economics," Review of Agrarian Studies, Foundation for Agrarian Studies, vol. 2(2), December.
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