Daron Acemoglu

Acemoglu shared the 2024 prize with Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson for research on how institutions are formed and how they affect prosperity. Their work distinguishes broadly inclusive institutions from extractive systems that concentrate power and wealth.

In Why Nations Fail, Acemoglu and James A. Robinson argue that political and economic institutions are major determinants of national prosperity. The 2012 book emphasizes differences between inclusive institutions and extractive ones rather than treating geography or culture as a complete explanation.

Acemoglu argues that automation can raise productivity but may also displace workers and deepen inequality when technology is focused mainly on replacing labor. In Power and Progress, written with Simon Johnson, he argues that technological gains depend on who controls innovation and how its benefits are shared.

Acemoglu is an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he has conducted influential work in political economy, labor economics, and growth. He has also coauthored major graduate texts, including Introduction to Modern Economic Growth.