Steven Block
Professor, Secondary Faculty
- Academic Dean and Professor of International Economics at the Fletcher School
Steven A. Block is a development economist specializing in agriculture and food policy in developing countries. His research addresses both agricultural productivity and the determinants of child nutritional status, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. He is co-author of a leading textbook on development economics. His other recent publications include: "Revisiting African Agriculture: Institutions and Productivity Growth," (with Robert Bates); "The Post-Independence Decline and Rise of Agricultural Productivity in sub-Saharan Africa"; "Does Child Undernutrition Persist Despite Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries? Quantile Regression Results" (with Will Masters and Priya Bhagowalia), and "Up in Smoke: Tobacco Use, Expenditure on Food, and Child Malnutrition in Developing Countries" (with Patrick Webb). He teaches courses on development economics, agricultural policy, and political economy.
Education
B.A., Brandeis University
MPP, Public Policy, Harvard University
Ph.D., Political Economy, Harvard University