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Balloon Debate

The Balloon Debate on:
"It's Not Just Sex: Why Economists should Be Interested in the Population Debate"
A Balloon Debate on Population and Economic Development

The Balloon Debate was comprised of several well-known economists, costumed to represent characters from history, discussing these issues in a light-hearted way with serious undertones. Four famous historical figures (Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, Margaret Sanger and Gunnar Myrdal) are in a hot air balloon which is rapidly sinking and will fall to the ground unless some of the excess baggage (passengers!) is thrown overboard. The video of this debate shows their impassioned speeches as they each explain how development would be adversely affected if they were to be thrown out of the balloon. Held in July 1999 this debate was the Keynote Session on Population and Development at the World Bank's Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) Network's annual two-day forum attended by more than 800 World Bank economists and external participants. To view this debate, click on the full session video, or the desired sub-section below.

Download Background Document [PDF]

Instructions:
Choose a connection speed: dial-up modem, or fast (network, DSL, cable).
Select a video segment, then scroll down and click the "View Video" button.

Full Session Video (39:01)
 
Part 1
 

Introduction - 3:02 min
(Sven Sandstrom, Managing Director, World Bank)

  Thomas Malthus - 6:26 min
(Joe Stiglitz, former Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, World Bank)
  Adam Smith - 8:04 min
(Jeffrey Sachs, Galen L. Stone Professor of International Trade at Harvard University and Director, Harvard Center for International Development)
  Margaret Sanger - 6:47 min
(Nancy Birdsall, Senior Associate and Director of Economic Programs, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
  Gunnar Myrdahl - 4:57 min
(Alan Gelb, Chief Economist and Sector Director, Economic Management and Social Policy Unit, Africa Region, World Bank)
   
  Part 2
  Introduction - 0:46 min
(Tom Merrick, Senior Population Adviser, World Bank)
  Thomas Malthus - 2:45 min
(Joe Stiglitz, former Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, World Bank)
  Adam Smith - 2:27 min
(Jeffrey Sachs, Galen L. Stone Professor of International Trade at Harvard University and Director, Harvard Center for International Development)
  Margaret Sanger - 2:46 min
(Nancy Birdsall, Senior Associate and Director of Economic Programs, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
  Gunnar Myrdahl - 1:52 min
(Alan Gelb, Chief Economist and Sector Director, Economic Management and Social Policy Unit, Africa Region, World Bank)

 

To view these videos, you must first install the free RealPlayer: Download RealPlayer 8 Basic (Click to go to the Real website.)


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