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 Lessons and Priorities for Reform

1. Institutional quality and market orientation matter

For successful development to occur, institutions such as property rights and the rule of law must be established and improved, though the exact for of these is heavily dependent on historical and cultural context. Additionally, markets should be balanced by state regulation, as assumptions involving a pure market economy are rarely met in developing countries. Lastly, though the mechanics are not provided for, equitable distribution of income is stated as an additional basis of successful development strategies.

2. Poor financial policies are barriers to development

Weak and maladjusted fiscal policy tends to inhibit development, and disproportionally affects low-income households upon failure. Large public debt can burden governments with debt service obligations that consume a significant proportion of the GDP. Large amounts of private debt can inhibit innovation and expansion in private sector industry. Poorly regulated financial institutions, such as some banks, and loose monetary policies, such as expanded money supply and credit are serious barriers to development.

3. Sustained growth cannot be guaranteed by a single set of policies

Development solutions that can trigger sustained growth will vary depending on the historical, cultural, and social attributes of a particular country. The primary impact of this is that states should have the flexibility to experiment with different economic policies that suit their specific context. Experimentation with different bundles of industrialization, technology development and acquisition, import/export, and other policies should be encouraged. Constraints to growth should be identified and addressed through both macro and microeconomic policies.

4. Multilateral trade negotiations should proceed in a manner that promotes development.

Whereas protectionism in developed countries creates obstacles for market entry and expansion in developing countries, trade negotiations should include stakeholders from impacted states. Additionally, trade policies in developing countries should be examined to identify and correct those that limit growth. (Note: at the time of the BDA, it was hoped that the Doha Round would reduce trade barriers between and among developed and developing countries. Though currently stalled, there have been recent calls to restart negotiations.)

5. Current international financial relationships are faulty

Financial arrangements between developed and developing countries are often defective, insufficient, and detrimental to the recipients. This is largely due to missing or malfunctioning markets within the countries, and a lack of mechanisms to share risk between lenders and recipients. As such, financial capital flows tend to be volatile, and are underregulated by international lending institutions. Additionally, aid levels tend to be inadequate to address some financial problems in developing markets. Both unbalanced risk and shortage of aid are likely the result of lack of representation of recipient countries in decision-making processes regarding financial arrangements.

6. Labor and financial capital are not treated equally

Movement of different types of capital across international boundaries is not balanced. Current policies, especially in developed nations, favor the transfer of financial capital, but often discourage the movement of labor capital across borders. Increased migration of workers along with sufficient protection (e.g. workers rights, market integration) of labor has the potential to increase both equity and efficiency in production and service provision. Improved labor capital mobility can also increase financial capital exchange through remittances.

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}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (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)