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POWER IN ECONOMICS: Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
The American Economist
By: Nicole Bruno

Among the world’s most influential men, proudly stands Dr. Jeffrey Sachs with his lifetime of devotion toward solving some of the world’s most complex issues. A former student and the youngest economics teacher at Harvard, he made a lasting impression on the university throughout his nineteen years of teaching. His next adventure has taken him to Columbia University, where he is the director of the Earth Institute. Dr. Sachs values the importance of helping other countries through economic development, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, debt cancellation and globalization. He eagerly takes on some of the most complex economic issues and finds joy in helping others. “The longer you wait, the less fun. If you wait until the bitter end, the whole economy can be destroyed,” says Dr. Sachs. In addition to teaching, Dr. Sachs is also an advisor to United Nations Secretary, General Bon Ki-Moon. He also has served as an economic advisor to post-communist countries in, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. “We've taken the view that if the rest of the world would democratize and create market economies, that would spread the benefits of prosperity around the world, and that it would enhance our own prosperity, and our own stability and security, as well,” says Dr. Sachs.   Inspired by his career in economics, Dr. Sachs, along with philanthropist Ray Chambers, created a non-profit organization, The Millennium Promise Alliance. The organization’s mission is to increase awareness and to help defeat extreme poverty and hunger around the world by the year 2015.  It works with impoverished communities, national and local governments, and partner organizations to implement high-impact programs aimed at transforming lives on the continent and engaging donor nations, corporations, and the general public in the effort. “What we see is that with very practical approaches — of investing in improved agriculture, of investing in improved infrastructure, of investing in basic health — not only will the quality of life for the poorest of the poor be raised tremendously, not only will millions of people who otherwise will die be able to stay alive, but also, they will begin the process of economic development. It will unlock the poverty trap and allow them to start moving forward,” says Dr. Sachs. “Our work is premised on the belief that, for the first time in history, our generation has the opportunity to end extreme poverty, hunger, and disease.”

Listed as one of “World’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals,” Dr. Sachs has written hundreds of academic articles as part of his efforts, and is also the author of many books that help to inspire others to join his cause. More recently, Dr. Sachs has been heavily profiled in the media for the relief trips that he has taken with U2 front man Bono and actress Angelina Jolie—both whom are leading humanitarians of our time. During these trips, he focuses on building economies, all while increasing the well-being of the citizens. “There’s no question that as economic development proceeds, it becomes easier to improve health; as incomes rise, nutrition tends to improve,” say Dr. Sachs. He has touched the lives of many different people throughout the world with his dedication to educating others and devotion to ending economic catastrophes that are present in our society. Although he has received the highest honors, there is nothing greater to Dr. Sachs then seeing the warm smiles of those he has helped to gain a better life.

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