A new issue of The Takeaway discusses the importance of equity and the role of development finance in the United States’ Economic Diplomacy.
COLLEGE STATION, TX (August 2025) – A new issue of The Takeaway discusses how development finance is implemented around the world, its role in the U.S. economic diplomacy, and the cruciality of equity in this field. Dr. Raymond Robertson, Director of the Mosbacher Institute, and Allison Bendersky, a student at the Bush School, analyze the impact of development finance in developing countries and its ability to counter global competition. They argue that it supports innovation and benefits small and medium-sized enterprises when domestic actors are risk-averse, while fostering economic and diplomatic ties. The study emphasizes the need for the United States to prioritize equity in its development finance strategy, given the shift away from traditional aid models.
You can read the full policy brief at “Equity in Development Finance: Strengthening U.S. Economic Diplomacy.” Raymond Robertson is the Academic Director of the Bush School DC, Director of the Mosbacher Institute, and Helen and Roy Ryu Professor of Economics and Government at The Bush School. Allison Bendersky is a second-year Master of International Affairs student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.
The Takeaway is a publication of the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy at the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University.
For more information
E-mail: bushschoolmosbacher@tamu.edu
Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy
The Bush School of Government and Public Service
Texas A&M University
4220 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4220
Phone: (979) 845-1532
About Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a community of scholars dedicated to solving diverse, real-world problems through determination, innovation, and above all, fearlessness. Texas A&M opened its doors in 1876 as the state’s first public institution of higher education and is today a tier-one research institution holding the elite triple land-, sea- and space-grant designations. Research conducted at Texas A&M represented annual expenditures of almost $1 billion in fiscal year 2018. Texas A&M’s 71,000 students and half a million former students are known for their commitment to service, as well as dedication to the university’s core values and rich traditions.
About the Bush School of Government & Public Service
The Bush School of Government & Public Service opened its doors on the Texas A&M University campus in 1997. The university’s service and leadership ideals reflect those of our namesake, George H.W. Bush, whose philosophy that “public service is a noble calling” is a guiding force in our curriculum, research, and student experience. In January 2021, the Bush School launched its Washington, D.C. teaching site to draw upon the wealth of resources in the nation’s capital. Additionally, the Bush School’s online certificate and degree programs offer the convenience of global access with the valuable connection and networking of in-person residency weeks. As a leading international affairs, political science, and public affairs institution, the Bush School prepares students to become principled leaders in their fields and to reflect the value of public service throughout their careers.
About the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy
The Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy at the Bush School of Government & Public Service is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to addressing the most pressing challenges confronting the United States and world economies by conducting policy-relevant research; providing education; and engaging stakeholders in the areas of trade, economics, and public policy.
