Project title: Breaking Poverty Traps & Path Dependency: the roles of infrastructure and institutional growth in economic development
Project description:
In what specific contexts can the development of both strong physical and soft infrastructures allow a civilization to break path dependence or dismantle trapping mechanisms? When is substantive infrastructure build-out not a major determinant of long-term economic growth, and what are potential alternative escapes?
Many economic systems since the beginning of civilization have struggled to maintain growth after disaster, while others have become stuck in poverty traps that inhibit economic prosperity. The widespread implications of hysteresis and "scarring" in economic development and urbanization processes are still not completely understood, and varied results from hard and soft infrastructure buildout are difficult to predict. However, in compiling information from ancient through modern case studies, contributions could be made towards more informed development strategy and the prevention of inefficient resource allocation. I am looking to identify patterns that determine when trapped economies benefit from either physical or nonphysical/institutional development, and which conditions require alternative solutions to escape poverty traps.
Most important achievement: I believe my most important achievement is yet to come.
Reflections on the College Scholar Program: I am incredibly grateful to the College Scholars program for the opportunity to delve into a multitude of academic disciplines. Setting forth my own research project and selecting classes towards an honours thesis has allowed me to work at the intersection of countless fields, push the boundaries of scholarship– and, of course, to have fun along the way.