Development economics at Oxford, 1950-2020

Abstract

This chapter reviews Oxford economists' contributions to development economics from around 1950 to the 2010s. It shows the enormous range of contributions to analysis and policy by Oxford development economists, evolving with the changes in the global and developing country context. Throughout, there were broad two schools of thought, one tending to favour a neoclassical approach using traditional economic concepts, and the other more critical of these concepts and more multidisciplinary. Both were firmly grounded in empirical research and each made important contributions and influenced policy, interacting with national and global development institutions. By the end of the period, the role of development economics was diminishing with the increasing heterogeneity in the developing world while problems, constraints and opportunities became more universal, encompassing developed as well as developing countries. Oxford economists are moving towards a more universal approach, but institutions have yet to catch up.