Background
GIRVAN, Norman Paul was born in 1941 in Street Andrew, Jamaica, West Indies.
GIRVAN, Norman Paul was born in 1941 in Street Andrew, Jamaica, West Indies.
Temporary Lector, University West. Indies, Trinidad, 1966. Secretary, Senior Lector, University West. Indies, Jamaica, 1966-1972, 1972-1973. Visiting Fellow, Institute, Institution International Studies, University Chile, 1969, Yale University, 1970.
Senior Research Fellow, United Nations African Institute, Institution Development and Planning,
1973-1975.
Company-ordinary, Caribbean Technical Project, University West. Indies, University Guyana, 1975-1977. Chief Technical Director, Material Planning Agency, Government Jamaica, 1977-1980.
Senior Officer, United Nations Centre Transnat. Corps., 1981, 1983; Senior Consultant, International Development Research Corporation, Canada,1982.
DegreesBSc London University, College West. Indies, 1962.
Doctor of Philosophy London School of Economies and Political Science, London, United Kingdom, 1966.
Offices and Honours Student of Year, University College West. Indies, 1961.
Ford Foundation Fellow, 1969-1970. United States Social Science Research Council, United Kingdom or United States of America Research Fellow, 1976. International President, Caribbean Association Political Economics, 1981.
Senior Consultant, United Nations Centre Transnat.
Corps., United Nations, New York City, New York, United States of America, since 1983. Editorial Board, New World Quarterly, 1967-1971.
An examination of the impact of foreign capital on the Jamaican economy led to the conclusion that developing countries like Jamaica could not hope to experience sustained development through largescale foreign investment inflows. And also that a proper analysis of the foreign investment process required an understanding of the behaviour of multinational corporations (MNC). Early post-doctoral work focussed on the effects of vertically integrated, oligopolistic MNCs on distorting the pattern of resource allocation in mineral exporting economies, for example by inhibiting integrated resource development within and between these economies, and more broadly in generating a process of dependent underdevelopment.
I have always been as interested in policy as in theory, and one branch of my subsequent work was the study of the nationalisation of MNCs in developing countries as one instrument for promoting a more autonomous, integrated, development pattern. Another branch was the study of transfer of technology, leading to a comprehensive examination of technology policies for small developing economies. My work as Director of Planning in Jamaica led logically to a concern with the theory and practice of the International Monetary Fund in developing countries, and with the possibility of devising alternative development strategies.
A case study of International Monetary Fund programmes in Jamaica added to the rapidly growing literature critical of stabilisation measures and their theoretical underpinnings. My more recent work has seen a return to the study of the behaviour of MNCs and their effects on developing economies, focussing on transfer of technology relations, and the strategies which developing countries may utilise to facilitate effective transfer and promote their own technological development.