Date :

23 February 2010

Time :

12:15 – 14:00

Presenters :

Dr Mark Orkin

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has the honour to cordially invite you to this public lecture to be presented by Dr Mark Orkin.

Abstract of the lecture:

The notion of “measuring the progress of nations” posited by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has received recent attention from a commission led by notable economist Dr Joseph Stiglitz. The recommendations are well-meaning but trite, until some practical attempts to apply them are considered. This presentation makes such an attempt, spanning not only the better-known socio-economic and demographic dimensions of the MDGs, but also less-known dimensions such as democratisation and gender. I also identify a key weakness of the MDIs, that they largely treat countries’ development separately; and instead seek to capture the relational aspect of (under)development across nations, through measures of C02 emissions and trade barriers. This interestingly changes in the global pecking order. The use of graphical means to overview these indicators simultaneously suggests a notion of “balanced development”.

Dr Orkin completed his contract as Director-General of Palama in 2009. Previously he was CEO of the HSRC and Head of Statistics South Africa.

To reserve a seat, kindly RSVP by 17 February 2010

Venues 

Cape Town: HSRC, 12th Floor, Plein Park Building (Opposite Revenue Office), Plein Street , Cape Town . Contact Vuyokazi Ngxubaza, Tel (021) 4668004, Fax (021) 461 0299, or VNgxubaza@hsrc.ac.za Cell: 082 0508453

Durban:  First floor HSRC board room, 750 FRANCOIS ROAD, Ntuthuko Junction, PODS 5 and 6, Cato Manor, Contact Johannes Khoele, Tel (031) 2425400, Cell; 084 2406 003 or JKhoele@hsrc.ac.za  

Pretoria: HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria.   Arlene Grossberg, Tel: (012) 302 2811, e-mail: acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za , Baby Twala, Tel (012) 302-2368, E-mail: Btwala@hsrc.ac.za.