Lauchlin Currie and Albert O. Hirschman on Development as a Problem of Decision Making

Abstract

This paper analyzes L. Currie and A. O. Hirschman’s contributions to development economics in the context of their Colombian experience as foreign experts. We show that the common ideas about the divergences between these authors have overlooked the view they shared of the experts’ role as a triggering factor in development strategy. They both believed experts should facilitate and guide the decision-making process. Using published and archival sources, we show that their experiences as experts in Colombia led them to redefine their ideas and understand the influence of the political economy of development policies on the advice that experts give.