​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in partnership with the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation hosted New York University’s Prof Vivek Chibber for the 5th Annual Lecture, on Wednesday, 16 March 2016.

Looking at India and South Korea, Prof Chibber spoke about the need for states to play a central role in driving economic development in South Africa, under the theme: “State and business in post-colonial societies: what lessons can South Africa draw from the contrasting experiences of India and South Korea?”.

According to Fiona Tregenna, a Professor in the Department of Economics and Econometrics at UJ, and the recently named SARChI in Industrial Development Prof Chibber’s ideas were relevant and profound for South Africa both in terms of current debates and long-term structural transformation.

“He raises fundamental issues such as the role of the state in late industrialisation, how to ‘discipline’ capital, what incentive structure for capital is appropriate for promoting industrialisation, and the relationship between developmentalism and democracy,” said Prof Tregenna who had presided over the Q&A session during the lecture.