Forty years ago, the Washington Consensus emerged. John Williamson of PIIE laid out a series of dos and don’ts for policymakers in Latin America that found acceptance around the world. Despite its influence, the Washington Consensus has since been widely criticized and often mischaracterized in terms of its approach and scope. The challenge remains to identify a set of new ideas—and policies—that can guide us through the challenges humanity faces today.
Convened at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), The London Consensus: Economic Principles for the 21st Century, is a new book that brings together the insights of over fifty leading European economists and policy experts to discuss the best available evidence and ideas to address many of today’s seemingly intractable global problems.
Two of the project’s editors, Tim Besley and Andrés Velasco, participate in a discussion of their policy agenda, joined by Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan of Brown University and moderated by Cecilia Malmström, PIIE senior fellow and former European commissioner for trade. C. Fred Bergsten, founding PIIE director, shares a personal historical perspective from the launch of the original Washington Consensus.
MODERATOR
Cecilia Malmström
Nonresident Senior Fellow, PIIE
PRESENTERS
C. Fred Bergsten
Nonresident Senior Fellow and Director Emeritus, PIIE
Tim Besley
School Professor of Economics and Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics, London School of Economics
Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan
Schreiber Family Professor of Economics, Brown University
Andrés Velasco
Dean of the School of Public Policy, London School of Economics