My name is Dmitry Pozhidaev, and for the past 30 years, I have pursued a dual career as a development practitioner and an academic. As a practitioner, I have worked across the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, Africa, and Asia, addressing diverse development challenges. My career has taken me to countries spanning the alphabet, from Afghanistan to Yemen and Zambia. Despite vast cultural, economic, political, and social differences, I’ve observed striking similarities in the development challenges these countries face.
What has always fascinated me is understanding why certain solutions succeed or fail, even when they are grounded in solid theoretical foundations or proven models from other parts of the world. Faithful to Marx’s principle of not only explaining the world but also striving to change it for the better, I approach my work with a commitment to practical solutions that promote transformative change.
This orientation also drives my academic endeavors, where I teach courses at various universities and conduct research on development economics, finance, structural change, and related fields.
Through this blog, I hope to provide a balanced combination of theory and practice, sharing insights that bridge academic rigor with real-world applications.
You can also find me on Twitter: @DDPozhidaev.