Ricardo Hausmann Photo
Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy
Contact:
617-496-3740
617-495-7579

Ricardo Hausmann is the founder and Director of Harvard’s Growth Lab and the Rafik Hariri Professor of the Practice of International Political Economy at Harvard Kennedy School. Under his leadership, the Growth Lab has grown into one of the most well-regarded and influential hubs for research on economic growth and development around the world.

His scholarly contributions have had a significant impact on the study and practice of development. These include the development of the Growth Diagnostics and Economic Complexity methodologies, as well as several widely used economic concepts, such as Dark Matter, Original Sin, and Self-discovery. His work has been published in some of the top journals in the world, including ScienceJournal of Development EconomicsJournal of International EconomicsProceedings of the National Academy of SciencesJournal of International Money and FinanceEconomic Policy, and the Journal of Economic Growth, among many others. These publications have been cited more than 47,000 times, and their main findings have been highlighted in mass media outlets such as The New York TimesThe Financial TimesThe EconomistThe Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

Since launching the Growth Lab in 2006, Hausmann has served as principal investigator for more than 50 research initiatives in nearly 30 countries, including the US, informing development policy, growth strategies, and diversification agendas at the national, regional, and city levels.

Before joining Harvard University, he served as the first Chief Economist of the Inter-American Development Bank (1994-2000), where he created the Research Department. He has served as Minister of Planning of Venezuela (1992-1993) and as a member of the Board of the Central Bank of Venezuela. He also served as Chair of the IMF-World Bank Development Committee. He was Professor of Economics at the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administracion (IESA) (1985-1991) in Caracas, where he founded the Center for Public Policy. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University.

Executive Education Programs

Academic Journal/Scholarly Articles

Book Chapters

HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series

Research Papers/Reports

Reviews

Magazine and Newspaper Articles

Transparent Engagement 

Harvard Kennedy School is proud of its energetic involvement in the world. To better understand how to solve public problems by improving policy and leadership, we engage directly with policymakers, public leaders, governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses whose activities affect those problems. However, we recognize that such engagement can raise questions about perceived and potential conflicts of interest, so we disclose publicly the key professional activities of our faculty outside the Kennedy School. The activities disclosed below are for the most recent reporting period, as defined by University policy. Some may be paid, some may be unpaid, and others may be in exchange for expense reimbursement only.

Outside Professional Activities For Ricardo Hausmann

Organization Relationship
Criteria Caixa Membership on a scientific or other advisory board
HiCue Speakers Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation
Santa Fe Institute Membership on a scientific or other advisory board
Project Syndicate Paid media appearance (may include written, audio, video, or other digital format)
Ministry of National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation
Pan America Energy (PAE) Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation
Universidad Diego Portales Prizes or awards
World Economic Forum Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation

Contact

Phone: 617-496-3740

Expertise

Globalization
Cities & Communities
Business & Regulation
Science, Technology & Data
Development & Economic Growth
Poverty, Inequality & Opportunity

Mailing Address

Harvard Kennedy School
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138