Juan Carlos de Pablo discusses the link between politics and economics

Economist Juan Carlos de Pablo explores the complex relationship between politics and economics, emphasizing the need to distinguish between practical politics, public policy, and the phenomenon of politization. De Pablo argues that politization often involves denying reality to satisfy the electorate, whereas true economic policy must function within the framework of government action.

To illustrate these concepts, De Pablo references the life and work of Mahbub ul Haq, the Pakistani economist and former Finance Minister who helped create the Human Development Index (HDI) during his tenure at the World Bank. Ul Haq’s perspective on development focused on expanding human options—such as education, health, political freedom, and security—rather than merely increasing income levels. His life was significantly shaped by surviving a violent assassination attempt by Sikhs while traveling to Pakistan, an experience that informed his academic and professional pursuits at institutions like Cambridge, Yale, and Harvard.