Professor James A. Robinson Awarded Nobel Prize in Economics

Dear Members of the University Community,

Early this morning, James A. Robinson, the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies, was named recipient of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. He is recognized along with Massachusetts Institute of Technology professors Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson for the critical insights garnered from their studies on the relationship between institutions and prosperity. 

With appointments in the Harris School of Public Policy and the Department of Political Science at the University, Professor Robinson uses an innovative combination of mathematical, quantitative, and qualitative methodologies to examine the differences in prosperity between nations, often in partnership with his longtime collaborator Daron Acemoglu. Their work, notably through the books Why Nations Fail and The Narrow Corridor, delves into the political and economic dynamics that underpin relative societal wealth, particularly focusing on the successes and failures of institution formation in the wake of colonization. They have found that whether these institutions are extractive or inclusive has significant implications for a nation's long-term prosperity. The laureates' research provides a vital framework for understanding the challenges of institutional reform and democratization, and from it emerges a compelling case for how inclusive institutions drive sustainable and equitable economic development for the betterment of humankind.

Please join me in congratulating Professor Robinson for this outstanding achievement. It is a well-earned acknowledgment of the significant influence his work has had on economics and social science.

Sincerely,
 
Paul
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Paul Alivisatos
President