Private Sector Development

This course addresses issues related to private sector development. In a context where most people in the world are born in low- and middle-income countries, job creation is a fundamental global concern. And yet, the private sector in these countries is typically underdeveloped - facing many barriers to growth, such as lacking infrastructure, limited access to financial capital, or insufficient training of both firm managers and employees. What policies can promote firm growth and employment creation? The course examines and discusses the most recent evidence on the main constraints to firm growth: Do firms need improved access to financial capital? What works best: microfinance, savings, credit, or cash grants? Are managers poorly trained? What types of training are most effective? How important are psychological barriers to business survival and growth?