Robert Z. Lawrence Keynote Speaker
- Professor of Trade and Investment at Harvard University
- Author of an FT 'Top Economics Books of 2024'
- Member of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors
Robert Z. Lawrence's Biography
Robert Z. Lawrence is a distinguished professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he holds the Albert L. Williams Professorship in International Trade and Investment. He is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Robert’s academic journey at Harvard began in 1991, after serving as a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he held the Twentieth Century Chair.
Renowned for his dynamic and engaging teaching style, Robert delivers highly-rated courses on economics, trade policy, and globalization. For over 20 years, he has chaired Mastering Trade Policy, a premier executive program designed for trade policy practitioners. His teaching extends globally, having led programs for international organizations like the European Commission, European Parliament, the WTO, and governments across the world, including those of Bahrain, Brazil, South Africa, and Mongolia.
As a prolific author, Robert has written, co-authored, or edited 32 books and over 150 articles on a wide range of topics, including international economic policy, technological change, income inequality, and labor markets. His latest book, Behind the Curve: Can Manufacturing Still Provide Inclusive Growth?, was hailed by Martin Wolf of the Financial Times as one of the best economics books of 2024.
Robert has extensive experience advising governments and organizations on global economic issues. He served on President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors alongside Janet Yellen, and has provided counsel to governments in countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Ukraine. He has also worked with leading international bodies like the World Bank, OECD, and World Economic Forum, as well as numerous private sector clients.
An active participant in global expert groups, Robert chairs the International Advisory Committee of the School of Governance at the University of Witwatersrand. His past roles include serving on the Presidential Commission on U.S.-Pacific Trade and Investment Policy, the World Economic Forum’s Trade Agenda Council, and the International Advisory Board of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Economics.
Robert’s thought leadership and deep expertise make him a sought-after speaker and advisor on topics of international economics, trade, and global competitiveness.
Robert Z. Lawrence's Speaking Topics
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Can Manufacturing Still Provide Inclusive Growth?
Why is the share of manufacturing employment declining in both developed and many developing countries? What are the consequences of these declines for inclusive growth? Is it possible to reverse this trend through trade and industrial policies? Can emerging economies transition from export-led growth in manufacturing to export-led growth in services?
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Can the Global Trading System as We Know It Survive?
Will Donald Trump fulfill his promises to raise tariffs not only on China but on all U.S. trading partners? What impact would these policies have on U.S. inflation, growth, and the dollar and how will they affect the rest of the world? Can other countries maintain a rules-based trading order if the U.S., which once led, now undermines the system by breaking the rules and China now the world’s largest trading country has a different economic system? Is the WTO, in particular capable of surviving these challenges?
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Income Inequality: Causes and Consequence
Income inequality has been rising among individuals and regions within virtually every country, yet it has declined between people on a global scale. What accounts for this paradox? What role has globalization played in generating unequal income growth, alongside technology, deindustrialization, and political and institutional changes? Is income inequality a driver of political polarization and the rise of populism, or are cultural factors, such as the rejection of multicultural cosmopolitanism, to blame? How should policies adapt to these developments?
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Prospects for Emerging Markets
What are the implications of major sources of global structural change for emerging markets? How will AI, innovations like 3-D printing, and digitization affect opportunities for specialization in the Global South? What will be the impact of climate policies on the South? Can these economies thrive amid persistent geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S.? Is it feasible for services to replace manufacturing in generating export-led growth?
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Can the Political Obstacles to Climate Change Policies be Overcome?
How have political considerations led the US and EU to adopt different policies to deal with decarbonization? Can these policies overcome right-wing opposition? Are industrial policies in developed countries and concerns over supply chain insecurity preventing them from offering opportunities for countries in the South to benefit from green growth? Will geopolitical concerns about Chinese dominance in green technologies prevent globally efficient climate policies?
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Never Make Predictions, Especially About the Future
In every decade, a few key factors have been central to forecasts about the future, yet they often do not unfold as expected. Currently, forecasts focus on deglobalization, the impact of AI on productivity and employment, geopolitical conflicts—especially between China and the U.S.—and the rise of right-wing populism and authoritarian governments. I will illustrate how past developments have surprised us and consider how assumptions about future trends could be equally misguided.
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