SEARCA Director Arsenio M. Balisacan served as lecturer during the 6th Ayala Corporation-University of the Philippines School of Economics (AC-UPSE) Economic Forum held July 10, 2009 at the UPSE Auditorium.
Titled "Pathways out of Rural Poverty: Is Agrarian Reform Passé?", the lecture primarily focused on agrarian reform programs, particularly land redistribution, land tenure, and restrictions on land transactions, which have been a popular response to persistent poverty in rural areas. This response draws in part from a flawed understanding of income dynamics and poverty reduction in rural areas. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) has blunted initiatives, stifling productivity and rural income growth. Getting the expanded CARP to help pave pathways out of rural poverty poses a key implementation challenge
Dr. Cielito F. Habito, Ateneo Center for Economic Research & Development (ACERD) Director and Prof. Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Dean and Professor of Law, UP College of Law served as discussants.
The AC-UPSE Economic Forum is a joint quarterly activity of AC and UPSE which aims to disseminate to the larger public the results of recent research at the UPSE and foster dialogue among policy makers, the private sector, and the academe on current issues confronting the nation. The 7th AC-UPSE Economic Forum is scheduled in October 2009.
Download Dr. Balisacan's full presentation.
Download Dr. Habito's comments from http://www.econ.upd.edu.ph.
