Steven A. Block is Academic Dean and Professor of International Economics and Director of the Program on International Development. His research focuses on food and agricultural policy in developing countries, and on the political economy of policy reform. Much of his work concentrates on sub-Saharan Africa and his current research focuses on agricultural productivity there. He is co-author of a leading textbook on development economics. His other recent publications include: “The Political Economy of Agricultural Trade Interventions in Africa” and “Revisiting African Agriculture: Institutions and Productivity Growth” (both with Robert Bates), “Does Child Undernutrition Persist Despite Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries? Quantile Regression Results” (with Will Masters and Priya Bhagowalia), and “Up in Smoke: Tobacco Use, Expenditure on Food, and Child Malnutrition in Developing Countries” (with Patrick Webb). He teaches courses on development economics, agricultural policy, and political economy. Professor Block earned his MPP and PhD (in political economy) from Harvard University