Monash Memo - 23 May 2001

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Nobel laureate speaks about economic inequality

Nobel laureate and Indian economist Professor Amartya Sen spoke about the inequalities of economic development in the Asia-Pacific region to a group of Monash academics, alumni and guests at a seminar last week.

As the complex issues surrounding the global economy are debated in public forums around the world, Professor Sen held a vigorous session that touched on the issues of poverty and famine, democracy and political freedom, information technology and health systems, ageing populations and world trade.

Professor Sen was visiting Melbourne as part of the Federation Festival and the Alfred Deakin Lecture series. His visit was sponsored by the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Monash Asia Institute and coordinated by the Monash Alumni Relations office.

His seminar at the Naval and Military Club in Collins Street attracted more than 50 people and several media representatives. Professor Sen was welcomed by Business and Economics dean Professor Gill Palmer and Professor On Kit Tam, from the Monash Asia Institute.

Professor Sen, a world authority on globalisation and inequality and the possibilities of wealth creation in emerging economies, also addressed a packed Melbourne Town Hall during his visit to Melbourne.

Born in India in 1933, he has taught at Oxford, Delhi University and the London School of Economics. Professor Sen won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1998. He is Master of Trinity College at Cambridge University and Professor Emeritus at Harvard.

Caption: Professor Gill Palmer, Professor Amartya Sen and Professor On Kit Tam.