Harnessing High Frequency Data To Inform Development and Humanitarian Interventions

Fall 2025 Harry ’51 and Joshua ’49 Tsujimoto Perspectives in Global Development Seminar Series

About the speaker

Chris Barrett is an agricultural and development economist at Cornell University. He is the Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, and an International Professor of Agriculture at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, a Professor in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, Faculty Director of the Cornell Collaboration on International Development Economics Research, and a Senior Faculty Fellow of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. He is co-editor-in-chief of Food Policy, edits the Palgrave Macmillan book series Agricultural Economics and Food Policy, and serves on the Editorial Board of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He is an elected Member of the National Academy of Sciences, and an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, and the African Association of Agricultural Economists, and an Honorary Life Member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists.

Abstract

Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable populations and of the natural systems that support their lives and livelihoods is central to ensuring both can withstand and recover from shocks and to sustainably improving human development. In a polycrisis era, the value of prompt – even anticipatory – response to shocks is increasingly important. The emergence of high frequency data from various sources (surveys, Earth observation, etc.) opens up new opportunities for early warning, for improved targeting and impact evaluation, and for anticipatory financing, as well as the opportunity to advance our understanding of sustainable development and humanitarian programming. This talk will discuss several use cases for high frequency data in improving development and humanitarian interventions.

About the seminar series

The Harry ’51 & Joshua ’49 Tsujimoto Perspectives in Global Development Seminar Series showcases innovative approaches to development with experts from around the globe. Each year, the series attracts online registrants from over 45 countries and more than 350 organizations. 

Seminars are held Wednesdays from 12:20-1:10 p.m. eastern time during the semester in 175 Warren Hall. Students, faculty and the general public are welcome to attend in-person or via Zoom.

The series is co-sponsored by the Department of Global Development, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, and the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management as part of courses GDEV 4961, AEM 4961, NTRES 4961, GDEV 6960, AEM 6960, and NTRES 6960.