Why success always begins with failure

Tim Harford, the undercover economist.

In the latest episode of Development Drums, I talk to author Tim Harford. Known to readers of the Financial Times as The Undercover Economist, Tim’s latest book Adapt is a magnificent explanation of how complex systems emerge through a process of trial and error.

In Development Drums, Tim and I focus on the implication of this for development. We look at examples of how iteration and learning are needed, both for development to take place, and for effective development cooperation. We also look at some of the obstacles which make it difficult for aid agencies to engage more systematically in trial and error and to acknowledge failure.

Development Drums is free on iTunes; you can listen to it via the Development Drums website; or you can download it to your MP3 player.

Development Drums aims to be an in-depth discussion of a topic relevant to development, freed from the time constraints and short attention span of broadcast media.  If you would like to suggest topics or guests, or propose questions for future guests we already have lined up, please do head over to the Development Drums group on Facebook.