【2011-11-30】On the afternoon of November 21, 2011 at the invitation of Peking University-Lincoln Institute Center, Dr. Uma Lele, former senior consultant of the World Bank Independent Evaluation Team (IEG), gave a lecture entitled "Patterns of Agricultural and Structural Transformation in 109 Developed and Developing Countries with Special Focus on Brazil, Indonesia, India and China" which is the latest collaborative research between Dr. Lele and her colleagues. The report attracted teachers and students from Peking University and many surrounding schools to listen and actively participate in the discussion.
In the lecture, Dr. Lele first introduced the BIIC four countries (Brazil, Indonesia, India, China) that she focused on in the current global economy. But compared with the other three countries, India's industrial and service industries contributed a higher rate of GDP in 1990, while agriculture contributed less to GDP. Among the four countries, China’s agricultural total factor productivity has the highest annual growth rate. Through further comparisons, Dr. Lele pointed out that China has the most public investment in agriculture compared to Brazil, India and Indonesia. This has led to a decline in agricultural land and agricultural population in China since 1981, but the use of agricultural machinery has increased significantly. The production of unit-based food, China is much less water than India. She believes that countries with faster growth are also investing more in agricultural technology, human capital, tangible assets and services.
In the interactive session after the lecture, the teachers and students presented Dr. Lele with some research data, research models and the status quo of China's agricultural development. Dr. Lele made a wonderful interpretation and the exchange atmosphere was warm. After the lecture, Professor Man Yanyun presented Dr. Lele with a beautiful gift from the Peking University-Lincoln Institute Center.
About Uma Lele:
Dr. Uma Lele is the CEO of international and regional research institutions funded by the UK Department for International Development. She has worked in research institutions such as the World Bank, which covers food, agriculture, health, the environment, global public goods, external assistance and aid efficiency. In 2005, she left the World Bank, which has served for 30 years, and was a senior consultant to the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Team (IEG). She has led a number of World Bank IEG complex assessment projects, including the controversial “1991 Forestry Strategy and Implementation” assessment. In 2007 she became the first independent external evaluation member of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Dr. Uma Lele received his Ph.D. from Cornell University and has taught at the Department of Food and Resource Economics at the University of Florida.
