Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, and Co-Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on African Governance has been appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to economics and international development.

With an emphasis on what keeps some people and countries poor, Professor Dercon’s work examines the failure of markets, government and politics, mainly in Africa, and focuses on how to achieve change. He was chief economist of the Department of International Development (DFID) of the UK Government from 2011 until last year.

Professor Stefan Dercon said: “I am delighted to receive this honour. It reflects as much my own contributions as those of my excellent and committed collaborators at the University of Oxford and the Department for International Development, to whom I am extremely grateful.”

Professor Dercon is also the director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies, and serves as co-academic director for the new Pathways for Prosperity commission on Technology and inclusive development, both hosted at the Blavatnik School. His book Dull Disasters? How Planning Ahead Will Make A Difference on better preparedness, and pre-arranged finance in the face of natural disasters was published in 2016.