The Tyranny of Experts: A Conversation with William Easterly

Join us in discussion of William Easterly’s new book, The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor, and to consider a new approach to fighting global poverty focused on freedom and individual rights. Ted Miguel will join Easterly in conversation on the book and its context.

Over the last century, global poverty has largely been viewed as a technical problem that merely requires the right “expert” solutions. Yet all too often, experts recommend solutions that fix immediate problems without addressing the systemic political factors that created them in the first place. Further, they produce an accidental collusion with “benevolent autocrats,” leaving dictators with yet more power to violate the rights of the poor.

Books will be available for purchase and refreshments will be provided.