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June 19, 2006

Jeffrey D. Sachs on Sustainable Development

Max Oliva, Associate Director of IE's Social Impact Management

“We actually have within our ability, because of the power of technology and because of the phenomenal wealth that exists in the world, an opportunity that is remarkable and that, I think, is a great danger to not take. And that opportunity is to end extreme poverty in our time.” Jeffrey Sachs.

Recenlty written by on an article from Yale economic review, he is described by them as “at once a scientist and a preacher in the field of economics. One of the most recognizable and important academics today”.

Former candidate to the 2006 commitment to development award, he has been a forceful advocate for Africa, having teamed up with politicians, scholars and world leaders alike. Through his book on “The End of Poverty” , he assures that with the right policies, mass destitution of 1.1 billion extremely poor people can be eradicated by 2020. He has however had strong opposition regarding his views from economists such as William Easterly from NYU.

Director of The Earth Institute, He has recently spoken together with Mark Malloch Brown, George Kell and several others at the State of the Planet 2006. You can see the entire event here and make your own judgement as of how to reduce poverty and enhance development.