James A. Robinson

Institute Director of The Pearson Institute; Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor and University Professor; Harris School of Public Policy and Department of Political Science, University of Chicago; Recipient of the 2024 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel

Publications

State Formation and Governance in Botswana

Citation Robinson, James A, and Neil Q Parsons. 2006. “State Formation and Governance in Botswana”. Journal of African Economies 15:100-140. Download (PDF) State Formation and Governance in Botswana Abstract Our analysis begins with the puzzle: how did Botswana...

From Education to Democracy?

Citation Acemoglu, Daron, Simon Johnson, James A Robinson, and Pierre Yared. 2005. “From Education to Democracy?”. American Economic Review 95:44-49. Download (PDF) From Education to Democracy?

Institutions as a Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth

Citation Robinson, James A, Daron Acemoglu, and Simon Johnson. 2005. “Institutions as a Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth”. Handbook of Economic Growth 1A:386-472. Download (PDF) Institutions as a Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth

Politician-Proof Policy?

Citation Robinson, James A. 2005. “Politician-Proof Policy?”. Desarrollo y Sociedad 55:1-56. Download (PDF) Politician-Proof Policy? Abstract In this paper I discuss the nature of the political constraints that the World Bank faces in delivering basic services to the...

White Elephants

Citation Robinson, James A, and Ragnar Torvik. 2005. “White Elephants”. Journal of Public Economics 89:197-210. Download (PDF) White Elephants Abstract Underdevelopment is thought to be about lack of investment, and many political economy theories can account for...

Institutions, Volatility, and Crises

Citation Robinson, James A, Daron Acemoglu, and Simon Johnson. 2004. “Institutions, Volatility, and Crises”. Pp. 71-108 in Growth and Productivity in East Asia, Chicago and London, edited by Takatoshi Ito and Rose, Andrew K. Chicago: University of Chicago Press....

From Current-Day Russia to Porfirio’s Mexico

Citation Robinson, James A. 2003. “From Current-Day Russia to Porfirio’s Mexico”. Studies in Comparative International Development 38:81-92. Download (PDF) From Current-Day Russia to Porfirio’s Mexico Abstract Good economic institutions promote prosperity. Yet bad...

Disease and Development in Historical Perspective

Citation Robinson, James A, Daron Acemoglu, and Simon Johnson. 2003. “Disease and Development in Historical Perspective”. Journal of the European Economic Association 1:397–405. Download (PDF) Disease and Development in Historical Perspective Abstract Health...