12/05/2026
Prof Haroon Bhorat Contributes Launch of Harvard’s Global Economic Transformation Initiative
DPRU Director joins global leaders shaping new approaches to inclusive growth and development
Professor Haroon Bhorat, Director of the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), recently participated in the launch of the Global Economic Transformation Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School—an important global platform aimed at rethinking development in a rapidly changing world.
The initiative was officially launched on 4 May 2026 as part of Harvard’s annual Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM), convened by the Harvard Center for International Development (CID). This flagship gathering brought together leading economists, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world to explore how development strategies must evolve in response to growing economic uncertainty, rising inequality, climate pressures, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Led by Harvard economists Dani Rodrik and Gordon Hanson, the Global Economic Transformation Initiative represents a major international effort to generate new ideas and evidence-based strategies to promote inclusive and sustainable growth. The initiative focuses on key global challenges such as the green energy transition, innovation and industrial policy, and the urgent need to create “good jobs” across both advanced and developing economies.
Professor Bhorat joined a distinguished group of global experts contributing to the launch discussions, including Raghuram Rajan, Arkebe Oqubay, and Yuen Yuen Ang. The sessions addressed critical issues shaping the future of development, including structural transformation, the changing roles of manufacturing and services, and the importance of governance systems that enable experimentation, learning, and coordinated policy responses.
As a leading development and labour economist, Prof Bhorat’s participation highlights the growing recognition of African scholarship in global economic debates. His extensive work on labour markets, poverty, and inequality continues to inform policy discussions in South Africa and across the continent, reinforcing the importance of context-specific and evidence-based approaches to development.
The launch of the initiative also reflects a broader shift in development thinking. Traditional models of economic growth are increasingly being reconsidered in favour of more inclusive and resilient frameworks that prioritise both productivity and job creation. Discussions at the convening emphasised the need to move beyond rigid sectoral approaches and instead focus on policies that support sustainable structural transformation.
For the DPRU and UCT, Prof Bhorat’s participation in this global forum reinforces the unit’s role as a key contributor to international policy discourse. It underscores the importance of connecting rigorous academic research with real-world policy challenges, particularly in the Global South.
As economies continue to navigate rapid transformation and uncertainty, engagements such as this remain critical. The contribution of scholars like Prof Bhorat helps shape policy pathways that advance inclusive growth, strengthen labour markets, and promote sustainable development outcomes globally.
