Gladstone Hutchinson

Gladstone “Fluney” Hutchinson began his tenure as a faculty member at Lafayette College in 1992. From 2001 to 2006, he was the College’s dean of studies. In 2007, he established the Economic Empowerment and Global Learning Project, which led him to be recognized as a thought leader by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Hutchinson is an expert in the economics of developing and emerging-market countries and has served as a key economic advisor to Jamaica, beginning this work in the 1990s. From July 2010 to January 2013 he was director-general and executive chairman of the Planning Institute in Jamaica, reporting directly to the prime minister. His work led to the creation of the country’s inaugural long-term development strategy, Vision 2030, and he advised the Cabinet and Parliament on economic, social, and environmental management matters. Hutchinson was part of the team that negotiated a new economic program with the International Monetary Fund and he served as Jamaica’s representative at the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the European Union.

Hutchinson’s co-edited book with Donald Harris titled “A Growth-Inducement Strategy for Jamaica in the Short and Medium Term” forms the basis for Jamaica’s economic program. Hutchinson’s other influential academic work includes studies of privatization and International Development Bank-published work on the role of public scholarship in fortifying civil society and boosting economic development.

In 2013, Hutchinson was named one of Jamaica’s nation builders and was honored with the Prime Minister of Jamaica Medal of Appreciation.