Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
The most accessible introduction to Robinson's central arguments about institutions, political power, and economic development.
Author guide
James A. Robinson Books in Order
James A. Robinson is a British-American economist and political scientist whose research examines how political and economic institutions shape long-run development, prosperity, poverty, democracy, and state capacity, with particular focus on Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. He is a University Professor at the University of Chicago and received the 2024 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. He is best known for his co-authored books with Daron Acemoglu on democracy, institutions, development, and liberty.
political economydevelopment economicscomparative politicseconomic history
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Other (3)
- Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy
book · 2006
- Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
book · 2012
Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine? Is it…
- The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
book · 2019
'As enjoyable as it is thought-provoking' Jared Diamond By the authors of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, based on decades of research, this powerful new big-picture framework explains how some countries develop towards and…
Frequently asked questions about James A. Robinson
Who is James A. Robinson?
James A. Robinson is an economist and political scientist whose work examines how political power and institutions shape economic development and prosperity. He is a University Professor at the University of Chicago.
Where did James A. Robinson study?
He earned a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science, an MA from the University of Warwick, and a PhD from Yale University.
What does James A. Robinson research?
His research focuses on political economy, comparative politics, and economic and political development, with particular interests in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. He combines economic analysis with historical, qualitative, and fieldwork methods.
Who influenced James A. Robinson?
Robinson has credited his Yale thesis adviser, economist Truman Bewley, with shaping his attitude toward social science and research.
What award did James A. Robinson win?
In 2024, Robinson shared the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel with Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.