JICA Ogata Research Institute Knowledge Forum "Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz Lecture - The Future of Employment in a Changing Global Economy”

There is growing concern around global employment trends. Population growth will increase labor force supply but whether the job creation that meets this will actually follow needs to be closely watched. In particular, in Africa, an exponential growth in the labor force is forecast. According to a medium-range projection by the United Nations, the global increase in the working age population is expected to be around 1.5 billion between 2010 and 2050, of which 1 billion is expected to take place in Africa. The key challenge here is whether inclusive growth that absorbs this increase in the labor force can be realized. Moreover, how employment around the world will be affected by other factors such as advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, changes in economic structure and supply chains following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the transition to a green economy, is yet to be fully understood.

This forum is hosted by the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development (JICA Ogata Research Institute), together with the Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD), a non-profit research initiative at Columbia University, and will analyze these issues around employment from multiple angles, spanning both macro and micro perspectives.

The forum will feature Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in Economics, Akbar Norman, and Arjun Jayadev, who will report on the results of their research on employment issues in the global economy and development. This discussion will cover the changing industrial structure facing developing countries, the potential for service and agriculture-led employment and productivity growth, the demographic transition and policies to create appropriate jobs, and the role of the international community.

Joseph E. Stiglitz is a professor of economics at Columbia University. He is the author of numerous books and articles on public economics, the economics of information and global economics. He has served as Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers and Chief Economist at the World Bank. He is also the co-founder and president of the Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD), a non-profit research initiative at Columbia University, and has been active in providing policy analysis and recommendations for developing countries;

Akbar Noman is a professor at Columbia University and Senior Fellow at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD). He is an economist with extensive experience in policy analysis and formulation in developing countries, working extensively at the World Bank, in other international organizations, and at the senior government level. In addition, he has taught at Oxford University and the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex;

Arjun Jayadev is the Director of the School of Arts and Sciences at Azim Premji University. He has taught at the University of Massachusetts and is a senior economist at the Institute for New Economic Thinking. He is also an editor of the Journal of Globalization and Development.

Through collaboration with overseas experts and research institutes, the JICA Ogata Research Institute is conducting research on key development challenges, expanding international research networks, and strengthening outreach and communication efforts. Since the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) in 2008, the JICA Ogata Research Institute has been conducting joint research activities with IPD. The new research project on global employment issues is the fifth collaborative project between the two institutions.

15:00-15:05 Opening Remarks
ーAkihiko Tanaka, President, JICA

15:05-16:05 Lecture "The Future of Employment in a Changing Global Economy"
ーJoseph Stiglitz, Professor and President, Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University & Research Partner, JICA Ogata Research Institute
ーAkbar Noman, Professor and Senior Fellow, Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University
ーArjun Jayadev, Director of the School of Arts and Sciences, Azim Premji University

16:05-16:25 Discussion session
Commentator:
​​​​​​​ーYoichi Mine, Executive Director, JICA Ogata Research Institute
​​​​​​​ーMegumi Muto, Vice President, JICA

Moderator:
Tetsuya Harada, Executive Senior Research Fellow, JICA Ogata Research Institute

16:25-17:00 Q&A session

17:00 Closing

JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development（Ms. Kajino）
E-mail：dritrp@jica.go.jp

Please register by clicking below.
*Registration will be closed at noon March 8 (Japan time).