Léonce Ndikumana is a Burundian Professor of Economics and specialist in African economic development, macroeconomics, external debt and capital flight.
Biography
Ndikumana got his bachelor's degree in
economics
Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...
at the
University of Burundi in 1986. He became a
lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. They may also conduct re ...
in 1987 and finally Director of Finance and Administration at the same university. In 1992, he got a Masters in Economics and in 1996 his doctorate at the
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named for George Washington, the university spans 355 acres across its Danforth ...
, United States. He is currently Distinguished Professor of Economics and Director of the Africa Development Program at the Institute of Research at Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a public land-grant research university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system and was founded in 1863 as the ...
in the United States.
Ndikumana is particularly interested in the macro-economic policy and in Africa economy. He focuses his career on the causes of weak African economies, its consequences and solutions needed. He is a member of the United Nations Development Policy Committee. He served as Director of Research and Operations of the
African Development Bank
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB, also known as BAD in French) is a multilateral development finance institution, headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast since September 2014. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and ...
(2008–2011), and Head of macroeconomic analysis at the
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA; , CEA) was established in 1958 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council to encourage economic cooperation among its member states (the nations of the Africa, African contin ...
(UNECA or Economic Commission for Africa), Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
from 2006 to 2008. He specializes on external debt and capital flight, financial markets and growth, and macroeconomic policies for growth and employment with a focus on the Africa.
Scientific activity
Léonce Ndikumana focuses primarily on African economy development, macroeconomic theory, and money and banking. He has examined the extent, causes and effects
the flight of capital from African countries. He has co-written with
James K. Boyce research published in several journals: International Review of Applied Economics, African Development Review, Development and Change, Journal of Development Studies and World Development. His préoccupations on macroeconomics are also published in journals such as
American Economic Review
The ''American Economic Review'' is a monthly peer-reviewed academic journal first published by the American Economic Association in 1911. The current editor-in-chief is Erzo FP Luttmer, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College. The journal is ...
, Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, and
Journal of African Economies
The ''Journal of African Economies'' is published five times a year by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford. The journal publishes economic analyses, focused entirely on Africa. ...
.
Ndikumana is also author of several works. In ''La dette odieuse de l’Afrique'' (
Amalion, 2013), co-written with James K. Boyce, Ndikumana reveals that, contrary to popular perception that Africa depends on financial resources of the West, the continent is actually a net creditor to the rest of the world.
His volume "On the Trail of Capital Flight from Africa. The Takers and the Enablers", co-edited with James K. Boyce (Oxford University Press, 2022) reveals the complex network of actors and enablers that facilitate capital flight from Angola, Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa.
Honors and awards
* In 2021, Ndikumana received the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, with a grant to support research on capital flight in Africa.
* In 2018, Ndikumana received the Chancellor's Medal, the highest award given by the Chancellor to faculty for scholarship. He delivered the Distinguished Faculty Lecture for 2017-2018.
* In 2017, Ndikumana won the UMass Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award
* In 2013, Ndikumana won the UMass Award for outstanding achievements in research and créatrice activity
* Spotlight scholar 2013.
* He is a member of the Policy Committee for development of the United Nation.
* Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
* Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa
* Dudley Seers Memorial Prize for the best article in Volume 38 of the Development Studies (article co-authored with James K. Boyce).
* Exceptional Teacher Award, 2001-2002.
* Nominated for the Distinguished Teacher Award, 1999.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ndikumana, Leonce
Academic staff of the University of Burundi
Living people
University of Massachusetts Amherst faculty
Year of birth missing (living people)
University of Burundi alumni
Washington University in St. Louis alumni