Scott Pearson in Portugal

Scott Pearson, who has studied economic change in developing countries for six decades, taught economic development and international trade at the Food Research Institute at Stanford for 34 years. He has coauthored a dozen books, won several awards for his research and teaching, and advised governments on food and agricultural policy. Scott has worked and traveled extensively in Asia, Africa and Europe. As one of our most versatile faculty leaders, he has accompanied 67 Travel/Study trips, on all seven continents. During this program, Scott will identify the key turning points in Portugal’s political and economic history.  He will explain how the Kingdom of Portugal evolved out of Al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia), why Portugal led the European Age of Discovery in the 15th century, and how the country has evolved through monarchy, dictatorship, and democracy in the centuries following that glorious moment in Portuguese history.

• Professor of agricultural economics, 1968–2002

• Director, Food Research Institute, 1991–1996

• Dean’s Award for Teaching in the School of Humanities and Sciences

• MA, international relations, Johns Hopkins University

• PhD, economics, Harvard University