Jeffrey Sachs
Template:TOCnestleft Jeffrey David Sachs (born November 5, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan) is an American economist and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
Jeffrey Sachs is also Director of the UN Millennium Project and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on the Millennium Development Goals, the internationally agreed goals to reduce extreme poverty, disease and hunger by the year 2015.
He is also the Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, where he is also the Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development and Professor of Health Policy and Management.
Mr. Sachs has advised governments in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia and Africa on economic reforms — and has worked with international agencies to promote poverty reduction, disease control and debt reduction of poor countries.
Prior to joining Columbia, Mr. Sachs spent over 20 years at Harvard University, most recently as Director of the Center for International Development.
He is the author of many scholarly articles and books. Mr. Sachs was recently elected into the Institute of Medicine and is a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Sachs received his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Harvard University.[1]
No Cold War event
On 24 October, No Cold War hosted a dialogue between Zhang Weiwei (professor of international relations at Fudan University, former interpreter to Deng Xiaoping, and author of several books including the best-selling The China Wave: Rise of a Civilizational State) and Jeffrey Sachs (a leading expert in sustainable development, former director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, and author of several books including the influential The End of Poverty). The online event was attended by over 400 people, with registrations from 62 countries.
Chairing the event, Jenny Clegg (academic, activist, and the author of several books including China’s Global Strategy: Towards a Multipolar World) outlined the rationale for organising the dialogue. When the countries of the world should be coming together to find common solutions to common problems – the climate crisis, the pandemic, a fragile global economy – we find ourselves at the cusp of a New Cold War.[2]
Federation of American Scientists
In 2009 Jeffrey Sachs served on the Board of Sponsors of the leftist dominated Federation of American Scientists.[3]
Meeting Lula da Silva
In early December 2006, Sachs traveled to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília for two days of meetings with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's Cabinet.[4]
United Nations
Sachs is a special adviser to Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations.[4]
Huffington Post
Sachs has written for the Huffington Post since as early as April 6, 2009.[5]
Relationship with George Soros/Open Society Institute


- On November 15, 2000, George Soros and Jeffrey Sachs spoke together, addressing the ARCO forum.[6]
- In 2004 Jeffrey Sachs of the The Earth Institute, Columbia University. Anthony Lake of the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University and George Soros of the Open Society Institute all spoke at the 2004 Global Philanthropy Forum Conference. [7]
- Following the Secretary-General’s challenge and the member states’ resolution at the 2005 World Summit in September, Tajikistan was now among the first countries to complete a National Development Strategy in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and sustainable economic growth in the country. The strategy was presented at a forum at the United Nations in New York, which will include remarks by George Soros, Jeffrey Sachs and HM Queen Noor.
The objective of the event was to present and invite comments on the Tajikistan strategy, and to hold a panel discussion on Tajikistan’s experience and how it should shape the evolution of future national development strategies around the world. About 70 participants from the UN system, International Finance Institutions, donor countries, the private sector and NGOs were invited.
The forum took place on Monday, 12 December, 2005, United Nations Secretariat in New York, Conference Room 2 and included the following speakers: Zephirin Diabre, UNDP Associate Administrator; Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the UN Millennium Project; George Soros, Chairman of the Open Society Institute and the Soros foundations network; HM Queen Noor; William Paton, UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan; Faizullo Kholboboev, State Adviser for Economic Development to the President of Tajikistan.[8]
- On September 12, 2006, George Soros stated that he was contributing $50 million to support the Millennium Promise, organized and led by the economist Jeffrey Sachs, that aims to help villages in Africa escape grinding poverty.[9]
- Sao Tome e Principe, off the coast of Nigeria, in anticipation of future oil income asked Sachs to help the government work on legislation to ensure transparency with respect to exploitation and revenues.[10]
- My work was supported by the Open Society Institute – a big promoter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and together with the government we designed some legislative and administrative approaches that could be helpful. The irony is that they still haven’t found oil, so I don’t know whether this work will be useful or not. But regardless, taking that kind of preparation is important, particularly in areas rich in natural resources.
- On October 20, 2008, George Soros, Nouriel Roubini and Jeffrey Sachs spoke together at an event entitled "Can we save the World Economy", sponsored by the Earth Institute. The summary for the event reads, "An open and frank conversation on the breakdown of financial markets around the world and if we can save the global economy. Will the Wall Street bailout plan work? What steps need to be taken in Europe and Asia to stem the market’s downward spiral? Are we headed for a global recession? Three of the leading minds in global economics will discuss the options."[11]
- Project Syndicate: the world's pre-eminent source of original op-ed commentaries, provides incisive perspectives on our changing world by those who are shaping its politics, economics, science, and culture. "Exclusive, trenchant, unparalleled in scope and depth Project Syndicate is truly A World of Ideas."
As of December 2010, Project Syndicate membership included 448 leading newspapers in 150 countries. Financial contributions from member papers in advanced countries support the services provided by Project Syndicate free of charge or at reduced rates to members in developing countries. Additional support comes from the Open Society Institute. Jeffrey Sachs is one of the economists contributing to Project Syndicate.[12]
Fundacion Ideas
The Fundacion Ideas, or IDEAS Foundation for Progress was created during the 37th Federal Congress of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) in 2008 to establish a “think-tank with the capacity to bring novel progressive ideas to the arena of political and social debate in an ever changing world.” Its mission is to identify challenges and opportunities and offer innovative and imaginative solutions that are at the same time rigorous from a scientific point of view and politically deliverable.[13]
American members of the Fundacion Ideas Scientific Committee include Joseph Stiglitz, Jeffrey Sachs, George Lakoff, Jeremy Rifkin, Pippa Norris.[14]
Feb. 2009 EFCA statement
On February 24, 2009 Richard B. Freeman, Frank Levy and Lawrence Mishel, issued an Economic Policy Institute Employee Free Choice Act Statement on the Economic Policy Institute website, calling for the passage of the pro labor union Employee Free Choice Act.[15]
Statement endorsers included Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University.
Mobilization to End Poverty speakers
The Mobilization to End Poverty Conference was held in Washington, D.C. from April 26 - 29, 2009, and was hosted by Sojourners and sponsored by World Vision.
The following were speakers at the conference:[16]
- Rachel Anderson, Boston Faith and Justice Network
- Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, United States House, of Representatives
- Dave Donaldson, Convoy of Hope
- Joel Edwards, Micah Challenge
- Alexia Kelley, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
- Rep. John Lewis, U.S. House of Representatives
- Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Brian McLaren
- Wes Granberg Michaelson, Reformed Church in America
- Donald Miller
- David Lane, ONE
- Tony Hall, Former ambassador and member of Congress
- Bishop Mark Hanson, ELCA Churchwide Organization
- Dr.Vincent Harding
- Lisa Sharon Harper, New York Faith and Justice
- Freddy Haynes, Friendship West Baptist Church
- Zina Jacque
- Rev. Ellen Nissenbaum, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Jeffrey Sachs, The Earth Institute at Columbia Univeristy
- Tavis Smiley, The Tavis Smiley Show
- Richard Stearns, World Vision
- Alexie Torres-Fleming
- Sharon Watkins, Disciples of Christ
- Jim Wallis, Sojourners
President Barack Obama was also invited to give a major address on poverty at the conference.
Fight Back Teach-In
The Fight Back Teach In was hosted by Frances Fox Piven, Richard Trumka and Cornel West on April 5, 2011.
The following were featured speakers for the Teach In:[17]
- Frances Fox Piven
- Cornel West
- Honorable Gustavo Rivera, New York State Senator
- Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University
- Heather McGhee, Demos
- Richard Trumka, President AFL-CIO
- Beth Huang, student leader, Wisconsin, United Students Against Sweatshops
- Anthony Klug, public education activist, UFT, Wadleigh High Chapter
- Sergio Cuevas, housing activist, National People's Action
"Progressive Agenda"
Signers of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's May 12, 2015 launched The Progressive Agenda to Combat Income Inequality included Jeffrey Sachs, Earth Institute.[18]
Sanders Institute Fellows
The Sanders Institute Fellowship is comprised of leaders dedicated to transforming our democracy through the research, education, outreach and advancement of bold, progressive ideas and values.
Dr. Jane O'Meara Sanders, Prof. Robert Reich, The Honorable Nina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Dr. Cornel West, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Bill McKibben, Danny Glover, Benjamin Jealous Dr. Stephanie Kelton, Michael Lighty, Shaun King.[19]
"Night of progressive vision"
Nomiki Konst is with Josh Fox. December 1 2018 at 11:08 AM:
A wonderful night of progressive vision for the planet with John Cusack, Rose Ann DeMoro, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Yanis Varoufakis, Ben Jealous and Josh Fox. I could not imagine a better team or allies in this movement. And of course, friends and supporters
References
- ↑ The Globalist bio, accessed December 8,2010
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ http://www.fas.org/about/sponsors.html
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Vanity Fair: Jeffrey Sachs’s $200 Billion Dream, July 2007 (accessed on Dec. 8, 2010)
- ↑ Huffington Post: Bio on Jeffrey Sachs (accessed on Dec. 8, 2010)
- ↑ John F. Kennedy School of Government website: Globalization Leaving Many Countries Behind Say George Soros and Jeffrey Sachs, November 16, 2000 (accessed on Dec. 8, 2010)
- ↑ Global Philanthropy Forum website
- ↑ United Nations Development Programme Newsroom, 10 December 2005
- ↑ NY Times: Philanthropist Gives $50 Million to Help Aid the Poor in Africa, September 13, 2006 (accessed on Dec. 8, 2010)
- ↑ Transparency Watch, Interview of the month, March 2007
- ↑ Earth Institute: Can we save the World Economy? (accessed on Dec. 8, 2010)
- ↑ Project Syndicate, who we are
- ↑ Fundacion Ideas, Who we are
- ↑ Fundacion Ideas, scientific committee page
- ↑ EPI Noted economists: The Employee Free Choice Act is needed to restore balance in the labor market, Richard B. Freeman Frank Levy Lawrence Mishel, February 24, 2009
- ↑ Mobilization to End Poverty website: Speakers
- ↑ Fight Back Teach In: Local Flyer (accessed on April 8, 2011)
- ↑ http://progressiveagenda.us/signers SIGNERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA TO COMBAT INCOME INEQUALITY]
- ↑ [2]