But the center’s leadership has been in flux since Sachs left for Columbia University in 2002, taking a large share of the center’s grants along with him.
A faculty committee chaired by economist Dani Rodrik ’79 steered the center for two years, and many expected Rodrik to be named director.
The Kennedy School source said that Rodrik was passed over due to political differences between him and Summers.
Rodrik has expressed deep skepticism about many of the policies that Summers, in his own career at the World Bank and the Treasury Department, promoted tirelessly. For example, in an article posted last month on the liberal website TomPaine.com, Rodrik wrote that the North American Free Trade Agreement—which Summers has vocally supported—and the United States’ 1995 peso bailout—which Summers orchestrated—did not improve real wages in Mexico.
But a faculty associate of the center, economist Jeffrey A. Frankel, wrote in an e-mail: “I do not know of any particular political differences between President Summers and CID faculty associates, and do not believe that they would have played any role in the relationship between Summers and CID.”
Rosenzweig said that despite his move to Yale, he and Rodrik will still co-teach a fall semester course at the Kennedy School, Political and Economic Development 101. Rodrik, who holds the Hariri chair of international political economy at the Kennedy School, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Meanwhile, Ellwood said that he is “saddened” by Rosenzweig’s departure. The dean added that he is “actively seeking a new center director,” and expects to announce a replacement for Rosenzweig soon. University officials did not acknowledge Rosenzweig’s resignation until asked about it by Crimson reporters this week.
Rosenzweig said that the center made strides during his brief tenure as director, specifically citing the fact that researchers at the center won $2 million in federal grants to study indoor air pollution in low-income nations.
“The faculty talent and willingness to collaborate across disciplines are there, but there is little support provided by the Harvard administration,” Rosenzweig said.
—Staff writer Daniel J. Hemel can be reached at hemel@fas.harvard.edu.
—Staff writer Zachary M. Seward can be reached at seward@fas.harvard.edu.