SCID's mission is to foster scholarly research on issues pertaining to economic policy reform in developing economies and economies in transition.

Faculty and staff at SCID research and distribute significant results on issues involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of policies that promote economic growth in developing countries. The objective is to promote economic development and to enhance the efficiency of the international economic system. Growth and improved economic performance in low-income and formerly centrally planned economies are essential to raise the living standards of the world's poor and to enhance global cooperation and security.

SCID is a center within the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) which focuses on international trade and development. The agenda for SCID has three main components: the causes of economic growth in developing and transition economies; the role of international trade in improving economic welfare around the world; and the impact of the international financial system on the world economy.

We aim to create and disseminate new knowledge about development and the world economic system that will help policy makers improve economic conditions and allow business leaders to survive in an increasingly globalized world. To this end, we do more than support research by faculty and graduate students. We also regularly engage business and government leaders to discuss our work and to help shape our priorities in both dissemination and undertaking new research.

In pursuit of both breadth and depth, SCID has programs that are topical as well as programs to study specific areas. SCID includes scholars who have in-depth knowledge of China, India, Mexico, Chile, Indonesia and several other nations, and regularly convenes conferences on economic policy reform in China, India and Latin America.

We inform the outside world by publishing our research both for the scholarly community, and for general audiences through policy briefs and mass media. And we hold conferences in which academics, business leaders and government officials meet to discuss economic policies. We also interact on a small-group basis with our friends and supporters for less formal exchanges of ideas.