James Robinson keynote speaker
- How Inclusive Institutions Promote Prosperity
- Why Nations Fail
Co-author of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, 2024 Nobel Prize winner James Robinson reveals the political foundations upon which our economic growth lies. Why do some countries thrive economically, while others fall into poverty? What does China’s unprecedented growth mean for America’s rank as the world’s largest economy? And how do our man-made institutions influence economic success (or lack thereof)? This economist and political scientist’s eye-opening talks draw from decades of original research to explain why a radically inclusive economic model is beneficial for our freedom, prosperity, and innovation.
Our institutions are the overlooked key to strong countries and democracies, says economist and Nobel Prize winner James Robinson. James won the 2024 Nobel Prize for Economics for his groundbreaking work on the vital role of institutions in prosperity and innovation, encapsulated in his international bestseller Why Nations Fail (co-authored with his frequent collaborator, MIT’s Daron Acemoglu). Drawing on fascinating real-world stories like the town on the U.S./Mexico border that has a dramatic difference in prosperity on either side of the border, James reveals how we can strengthen our institutions—and through them, our communities, our countries, and our world.
In his latest book The Narrow Corridor—also co-authored with Daron Acemoglu—he explores the tenuous conditions of freedom, and why it flourishes in some states over others. From the American Civil Rights movement, to China’s Imperial traditions, to Europe’s fraught recent history, James deftly shows us that liberty is achieved only when a delicate balance between state and society is formed—one which, if left unchecked can easily lend itself to authoritarianism or anarchy. Incredibly relevant in today’s destabilizing moment, The Narrow Corridor was named one of the Best Books of the Year by both the Financial Times and Kirkus Reviews, with the latter calling it “Provocative and intuitively correct. An endlessly rewarding book.”
James’s previous book, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty was the culmination of 15 years of groundbreaking research. The book explores the gap between rich and poor countries with historical evidence that dates all the way back to the Roman Empire, and crisscrosses the globe from Latin America to the United States. To date, Why Nations Fail has been translated into 32 languages and made both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more.
Prior to that, James and Daron authored Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy together—another path-breaking tome that examines why different social groups prefer different political institutions. Commended as “brilliant,” by the Financial Times, this book offers a framework for understanding the very creation and consolidation of democracy itself.
James is the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, as well as the Institute Director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He was previously on the faculty at Harvard University, where he was the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government. Robinson also previously served as an advisor to the World Bank’s Report on Governance. He holds a Ph.D from Yale University, an MA from the University of Warwick, and a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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