After 40 years of independence, there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future of Papua New Guinea. The country is endowed with vast natural resources, a capacity to feed itself, and a young population. Papua New Guinea also benefits from its proximity to the global centre of economic gravity in East Asia. But negative trends — in the economy, law and order, health and education — do not augur well for progress in raising living standards. The next generation of leaders in Papua New Guinea will need to be innovative if they are to turn these trends around and implement policies that deliver rather than promise long-term sustainable development.

On 17 March the Lowy Institute hosted a conversation with Sean Dorney and Jenny Hayward-Jones, who discussed Jenny’s research on the challenges the next generation of leaders in Papua New Guinea will face.

After 40 years of independence, there are good reasons to be optimistic about the future of Papua New Guinea. The country is endowed with vast natural resources, a capacity to feed itself, and a young population. Papua New Guinea also benefits from its proximity to the global centre of economic gravity in East Asia. But negative trends — in the economy, law and order, health and education — do not augur well for progress in raising living standards. The next generation of leaders in Papua New Guinea will need to be innovative if they are to turn these trends around and implement policies that deliver rather than promise long-term sustainable development.<br> <br>On 17 March the Lowy Institute hosted a conversation with Sean Dorney and Jenny Hayward-Jones, who discussed Jenny’s research on the challenges the next generation of leaders in Papua New Guinea will face.

Event audio and podcasts from the Lowy Institute

<p>Event audio and podcasts from the Lowy Institute</p>

Lowy Institute Archive

After 40 years of independence, there are good re…