Contents
Daron Acemoglu
Investigating how political and economic institutions shape prosperity, and co-writing Why Nations Fail.
Why Nations Fail · The Narrow Corridor
- Born
- 3 September 1967
- Birthplace
- Istanbul, Turkey
More people
Daron Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu studies the relationship between power, technology and economic development. His work with Simon Johnson and James Robinson on institutions earned the 2024 economics prize, while his books brought these debates to a broad readership.
Early life
Istanbul upbringing
Grew up in an Armenian family and attended Galatasaray High School.
British universities
Studied economics at York before completing postgraduate degrees at the London School of Economics.
Career
- 1992–1993
Early teaching
Taught at LSE after completing his doctorate.
- 1993
Joining MIT
Built an academic career spanning development, labour markets and political economy.
- 2019–2024
Wider recognition
Became an MIT Institute Professor and shared the 2024 economics prize with Johnson and Robinson.
Books & ideas
Why Nations Fail
With James Robinson, argues that institutions help explain differences in national prosperity.
The Narrow Corridor
Explores how state power and organised society can constrain each other.
Power and Progress
With Simon Johnson, examines who benefits from technological change.
Beyond economics
Public debate
His writing questions the assumption that new technology automatically improves everyone’s living standards.
An academic family
Married economist Asuman Ozdaglar, a fellow MIT professor.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional biography and research ↗Photo: MeJudice. CC BY 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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