Speakers included Columbia University’s Jenik Radon, Anya Schiffrin and Joseph Stiglitz as well as Graham Watts from the Financial Times and development economist Isabel Ortiz.
Transition countries face enormous challenges as government and citizens adapt to new economic and social arrangements. The challenge for Mongolia is to craft economic policies which will promote growth and ensure that the benefits of economic development are shared among its people. Managing foreign aid inflows and creating a climate that will attract foreign investment are just two of the policy dilemmas that Mongolia faces in the coming years.
Making sound policy choices depends in part on educating the public to become informed about the options available. One way of disseminating information about the successes and failures of other countries is through the media. The economic and development issues are complex and technical and require training of reporters so that they can report accurately and critically on the topic.
This three-day workshop bring together foreign economists with decades of experience in development and local journalists who write on economics and development in order for them to discuss the key issues that Mongolia faces, the experiences of other countries, and map out strategies for future coverage. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of foreign aid and the role of mining in economic development.
The event is open to Mongolian journalists who cover business, economics and/or development. Interested applicants will need to submit samples of their work, their cvs and a brief statement as to why they want to attend and what they hope to learn from the workshop.