Talks

Economic development with purpose

Description

Economic development is a critical component that drives economic growth in an economy. NOVAFRICA is the Nova SBE Knowledge Center dedicated to promoting business and economic development in the world, with a particular focus in Africa, line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations. Professors Cátia Batista and Pedro Vicente, scientific Directors of NOVAFRICA, explained how NOVAFRICA together with its network of academics and partners, governmental and non-governmental organizations, has been undertaking a wide range of applied research projects. The center has contributed to a more sustainable development model with publications in top academic journals and the debate on the more effective public policies to support the local communities and private sector development. NOVAFRICA has had a positive impact in more than a million people lives! The topics that were addressed are current and impactful. In the context of an ageing society and strong demographic pressure on European economies, the topic of international migration to Europe acquires exceptional relevance. Professor Catia Batista analyzed this theme, focusing particularly on African migration to Europe. The link between natural resources and conflicts in developing countries is another pressing issue in a world questioning its sources of energy. Professor Pedro Vicente talked about how good public policies can prevent conflict and radicalization in resource-rich African settings.

Participants

Max. 30

Duration

2 hours

Location

B010

Contributors

Cátia Batista

Associate Professor of Economics at Nova SBE, Founder & Scientific Director of NOVAFRICA and member of Estoril Conferences’ Academic Board

Portugal

Pedro Vicente

Full Professor of Economics at Nova SBE & Founding Scientific Director NOVAFRICA

Portugal

Cátia Batista

Cátia Batista is an Associate Professor of Economics at Nova University Lisbon, where she is also the Founder and Scientific Director of the NOVAFRICA research center. She holds a PhD in Economics from the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. Batista’s research interests relate to international migration and remittance flows, mobile money, entrepreneurship, technology adoption, education, and policy evaluation. Cátia taught at the University of Chicago, University of Oxford, Trinity College Dublin, and Notre Dame University. She is currently a Research Fellow at the international research centers CReAM (United Kingdom) and IZA (Germany). Previously, Batista worked at the International Monetary Fund and the Portuguese Catholic University and consulted for the World Bank and the International Growth Center.

Pedro Vicente

Pedro C. Vicente is a Full Professor of Economics at Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE), where he is also the founding scientific director of the knowledge centre NOVAFRICA. He specializes in development economics and Africa, with a focus on political economy issues. Previously to Nova SBE, Pedro Vicente was a professor and researcher at the University of Oxford and Trinity College Dublin. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame and a consultant to the World Bank. Pedro Vicente has published in leading Economics journals such as the American Economic Review, the Review of Economics and Statistics, the Economic Journal, and the Journal of Development Economics. His research has entailed substantial fieldwork efforts in African countries including Mozambique, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as funding by national and international agencies such as DFID, USAID, 3IE, IZA, and FCT. Pedro Vicente has a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago.