A Special Conversation with Professor Bina Agarwal

A Special Guest in Paris

On 18 March 2025, students from Sciences Po, in particular from the Paris School of International Affairs, had the privilege of engaging in a discussion with Professor Bina Agarwal, an eminent scholar in Development Economics and Environment at the Global Development Institute of the University of Manchester, and former director of the Institute of Economic Growth in Delhi, India. The event was moderated by Hélène Périvier, economist at the French Economic Observatory (OFCE), and Arancha González Laya, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA). It provided an opportunity for students to interact with a globally recognised scholar who produced pioneering work on global inequalities.

Professor Agarwal was in Paris, France on this rare occasion as the co-winner of the prestigious 2024 Global Inequality Research Award (GiRA). Her research has been key in shedding light on issues such as land ownership, gender inequalities, common property-based resource management, and legal reforms related to inheritance rights, particularly in developing countries.

A Rich Conversation

During the 1.5-hour discussion, she shared insights into the motivations behind her research, focusing on the gender gap in land ownership and property rights across different regions. The conversation also touched upon ecofeminism, her role in leading a movement to reform India’s inheritance laws, the concept of the commons, and women in farming. The students posed insightful questions, making for an engaging and dynamic exchange.

For those who could not attend, the replay of the event is available here: