FIRESTONE: COLONIAL CONCESSIONS IN LIBERIA

Firestone: Colonial Concessions in Liberia

Firestone is one of the oldest and largest natural rubber plantations in the world. Founded in 1926 in Liberia by Harvey Firestone, the plantations continue to provide employment for thousands of Liberians to date. Till Trojer, a post-doctoral researcher at the Wheeler Institute, anthropologist and filmmaker, travelled to Liberia last year in May to film…

Highlighting research for impact

Wheeler Institute launches new micro website showcasing business research with a focus on development. The Wheeler Institute has launched a micro website under the banner ‘Business research for impact’. Spanning every urgent social issue from climate change to political economy and gender discrimination to global conflict, the new microsite brings together the Institute’s research into…

Harnessing the potential of urbanisation in Africa: Raising capacity of local governments

The success of urban policies depends on municipal and state capacity. Government in Africa, especially at the local level, suffers from low fiscal capacity, but there are signs of improvement. We have seen through this series that government policy has a role to play in ensuring that cities develop productively. However, without public funds and…

“It’s the best way to gain real-world insights” | Pre-Doctoral Research Assistants at the Wheeler Institute

Two Pre-Doctoral Researchers at the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development reveal how the experience has profoundly shaped their academic ambitions – and yielded some surprising insights along the way Whatever preconceptions Pre-Doctoral students have before they join the Wheeler Institute, they are always surprised to find that the experience is much broader than they…

Social impact in times of COVID: A story of two entrepreneurs

Professor Rajesh Chandy, Co-Academic Director of the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development, London Business School sat down with Rhea Mazumdar Singhal, CEO and founder of Ecoware, and Gaurav Mehta, CEO and founder of Dharma Life, to discuss their entrepreneurial stories and how they are trying to address some of the biggest challenges that India…

The business of vaccines during a pandemic: How the Serum Institute of India’s $1.2 Billion Covid-19 wager paid off

Mr. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII) – the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer –  was recently hosted by the student-led LBS India Club. Mr Poonawalla discussed with Krati Jain MBA2022 and vice president of the India Club, his ambition to accelerate vaccine equity across the globe, and his thoughts on how the…

Harnessing the potential of urbanisation in Africa: Land and housing policy

Through pre-emptive urban planning the government can signal public investment and encourage coordinated private investment in land. How can land and housing policy improve real-estate markets in African cities? Slums are characterised by both low public and private capital investment and are pervasive in urban Africa. Various policy responses are proposed to create urban neighbourhoods…

A career inspired by a journey from Cape Town to Cairo with Till Trojer

“Anthropology forces you to reset and rewire your own thinking process. You have to train yourself to be open to the world around” An anthropologist and filmmaker, Dr Till Trojer recently joined the Wheeler Institute as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow.  We touched on his ambition for his research at the Wheeler Institute, and discussed his…

Harnessing the potential of urbanisation in Africa: Challenges in real-estate markets

Customary land-tenure systems, which can work well in the rural hinterland, cannot accommodate the high prices and complex land markets of large, modern cities. There are at least two key institutional features that present challenges to the land markets of African cities: a lack of property rights and minimal urban planning. Property rights are fundamental…