Contrary to what one might think, Haiti is facing a dual crisis: gang expansion and the dysfunction of legitimate institutions, with one feeding the other. Through this conversation, we will try to unpack the origin of each of the crises, aiming to understand how they connect and what consequences they have led to. On one hand, we will discuss the economic, political, and foreign actors' involvement in the gang expansion. On the other hand, regarding the political governance crisis, we will explore the constitutional crisis, while also considering the US's meddling in Haiti's politics. Finally, we will explore potential solutions to resolve the crisis.

Ralph Valery Valiere is a second-year MPP student at the Harris School of Public Policy. His area of interest includes business regulations, competition policy, local governance, and local development. He is also interested in the application of behavioral economics techniques in public policy. He believes that considering people’s cognitive and psychological biases while studying their economic behaviors can help governments (especially in Haiti) build more efficient policies: to fight against extreme poverty in rural areas, reduce inequality, and create better living conditions for the population.

Bombay Eats will be provided for lunch. 

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Kile McVey (kmcvey@uchicago).