Steven Block

Steven A. Block is Professor of International Economics. He served as Academic Dean from July 2015 - June 2020. His research focuses on food and agricultural policy in developing countries, and on the political economy of policy reform. His recent work has addressed the cost of nutritious diets across countries, the impact of climate shocks on maize production and child nutrition in Tanzania and Nepal, the political economy of renewed growth and agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the relationship between poverty reduction and child nutrition outcomes. He is co-author of a leading textbook on development economics, and teaches courses on development economics, agricultural policy, and political economy. Professor Block earned his MPP and PhD (in political economy) from Harvard University.

Research/Areas of Interest:

• Agricultural development
• Economic growth
• Political economy
• Development economics, particularly food and agricultural policy, growth, and political economy

Education

• PhD, Political Economy, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States, 1993
• MPP, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States, 1984
• BA, History, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States, 1980

Tufts University Appointments

• Professor
  Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1 Sep 2011 - present
• Professor
  Tufts University, School of Arts and Sciences, Economics, 1 Jul 2021 - present
• Professor
  Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Agriculture, Food and Environment, 1 Sep 2014 - present
• Academic Dean
  Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1 Jul 2015 - 30 Jun 2018
• Associate Professor
  Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Agriculture, Food and Environment, 22 Aug 2007 - 31 Aug 2014
• Associate Professor
  Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1 Sep 1999 - 31 Aug 2011
• Assistant Professor
  Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Agriculture, Food and Environment, 1 Mar 1997 - 21 Aug 2007
• Assistant Professor
  Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1 Sep 1995 - 31 Aug 1999

Academic Positions

• Visiting Scholar
  Harvard University, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Cambridge, United States 2008 - 2009
• Visiting Scholar
  Harvard University, Kennedy School, Center for International Development, Cambridge, United States 2001 - 2002

Selected Publications

Block, S. A. (2014). The post-independence decline and rise of crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa: Measurement and explanations. Oxford Economic Papers, 66(2), 373-396. doi:10.1093/oep/gpt010

Bates, R. H., & Block, S. A. (2013). Revisiting African agriculture: Institutional change and productivity growth. Journal of Politics, 75(2), 372-384. doi:10.1017/S0022381613000078

Bates, R. H., & Block, S. (2018). Political institutions and economic growth in Africa's 'Renaissance'. Oxford Economic Papers, 70(2), 327-352. doi:10.1093/oep/gpx049

Bai, Y., Alemu, R., Block, S. A., Headey, D., & Masters, W. A. (2021). Cost and affordability of nutritious diets at retail prices: Evidence from 177 countries (Vol. 99). doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101983

Block, S., Haile, B., You, L., & Headey, D. (2022). Heat shocks, maize yields, and child height in Tanzania. Food Security, 14(1), 93-109. doi:10.1007/s12571-021-01211-6

Masters, W. A., Finaret, A. B., & Block, S. A. (2022). The economics of malnutrition: Dietary transition and food system transformation. Unknown Journal, 6, 4997-5083. doi:10.1016/bs.hesagr.2022.03.006