Barcelona Development Agenda

Barcelona Development Agenda

Introduction

The Barcelona Development Agenda is a statement of development principles formulated as a response to the prevailing Washington Consensus development model. Resulting from the collaboration of economists from both developing and developed countries at the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona, Spain, the Barcelona Development Agenda outlines seven lessons learned from previous policy failures and successes, and presents them as priorities for future economic reforms. The principles emphasize a balance of market and government economic roles, flexible economic tools, and an increased role for sustainability and equity in governance.

Background

The Universal Forum of Cultures Barcelona 2004 that met in Barcelona, Spain from May 9th to September 26th, 2004 to promote human rights, diversity, peace, and sustainable development. On the last two days of the Forum, economists from organizations around the world met to discuss the impacts of economic policies, especially global policies, on developing countries. The opening statement of the agenda laid out the discussion of the meeting:

"We, a group of economists from developing and developed countries, met in Barcelona on September 24 and 25, 2004 to consider
the prospects for growth and development around the world. We discussed the effect of economic reforms adopted by many developing
nations over the last two decades, the lessons for economic policymaking that emerge from this experience, and the performance of
the international economic system into which poor and middle-income countries are increasingly integrated."   

Based on trends and concerns the participants noted in international development policy, the agenda outlines principles for policy implementation that reflect both widely accepted principles of macroeconomics, such as the importance of market development, and improved understanding of challenges and solutions in developing markets, such as capital inequity and environmental impacts.

Observations of current policy

Three encouraging trends

• Gains in human rights in many developing countries.

• Rapid growth in several countries (e.g. China and India) that has pulled millions of people out of poverty.

• Recognition of the importance of macroeconomic stability (e.g. reduced inflation, etc.).

Three reasons for concern

• Recurring systemic financial crises affecting developing states, including countries that applied previously-recommended development policies overseen by international organizations.

• Lack of sustained growth in many regions that adopted reforms.

• Persistence and growth of distributional inequalities in many developing states, especially in wealth and income.

Seven sets of lessons as seven priorities for reform

1. Institutional quality (respect of law and property rights) plus market orientation (with balance between market and state) and distribution of income are at root of successful development strategies
2. Large public and private debt, poorly regulated financial institutions, and loose monetary policies are serious hindrances to development
3. No single set of policies can be guaranteed to ignite growth
4. Multilateral trade negotiations should proceed in a manner that promotes development.
5. International financial arrangements are not working well.
6. Current international arrangements deal with movements of capital and labor asymmetrically.
7. Environmental issues need to be addressed with sustainable development policies at both national and global levels.

Participants

• Alice Amsden, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Olivier Blachard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Ramón Caminal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
• Guillermo Calvo, Columbia University
• Daniel Cohen, Paris School of Economics, Paris
• Antón Costas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
• Guillermo de la Dehesa, Centre for Economic Policy Research
• Jeffrey Frankel, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• Jordi Galí, Centre for Research in International Economics, University Pompeu Fabra
• Ricardo Hausmann, Harvard University
• Louka Katseli, Development Center, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• Martin Khor, Third World Network
• Paul Kurgman, Princeton University
• Deepak Nayyar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
• José Antonio Ocampo, Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University
• Dani Rodrik, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• Jeffrey D. Sachs, Earth Institute, Columbia University
• Miguel Sebastián, Complutense University of Madrid
• Narcís Serra, Center for International Relations and Development Studies*Shari Spiegel, New Holland Capital
• Joseph E. Stiglitz, Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University
• Ernesto Talvi, Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies
• Joan Tugores, University of Barcelona
• Andrés Velaso, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• Jaume Ventura, Centre for Research in International Economics, University Pompeu Fabra
• Xavier Vives, Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires
• John Williamson, Peterson Institute for International Economics

References

• The Washington Consensus Reconsidered: Towards a New Global Governance. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-953408-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
• "Forum 2004: The Legacy. The Barcelona Development Agenda". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.bcn.es/forum2004/english/desenvolupament.htm" ignored (help)
• "Universal Forum of Cultures Barcelona 2004". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.fundacioforum.org/eng/download/eng/b04.pdf" ignored (help)