James A. Robinson
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
How Different Social Scientists Think
Download (PDF) How Different Social Scientists Think Abstract I illustrate how, based on my personal experience, different social scientists would study the same question. I argue that each brings different paradigms, perspectives, preconceptions and methodologies,...
The Weak State Trap
Citation Fergusson, Leopoldo, Carlos A. Molina and James A. Robinson. Working Paper. “The Weak State Trap”. Download (PDF) The Weak State Trap Abstract Development outcomes come in ‘clusters’ that seem difficult to exit. Using original data from Colombia, we present...
Power and Persistence: The Indigenous Roots of Representative Democracy
Citation “Power and Persistence: The Indigenous Roots of Representative Democracy,” (2019) (joint with Jeanet Bentzen Sinding and Jacob Gerner Hariri, University of Copenhagen), Economic Journal, 129, 618, 1, 678-714. Download (PDF) Power and Persistence: The...
Beyond Modernization Theory
Citation Acemoglu, Daron, and James A Robinson. 2018. "Beyond Modernization Theory." Annals of Comparative Democratization 16(3): 26-31. Download (PDF) Beyond Modernization Theory
Rents and Economic Development: The Perspective of Why Nations Fail
Citation Acemoglu, Daron, and James A Robinson. Forthcoming in Public Choice. “Rents and Economic Development: The Perspective of Why Nations Fail”. Download (PDF) Rents and Economic Development: The Perspective of Why Nations Fail Abstract We present the approach to...
The Long-Run Impact of the Dissolution of the English Monasteries
Citation Heldring, Leander, James A Robinson, and Sebastian Vollmer. Working Paper. “The Long-Run Impact of the Dissolution of the English Monasteries”. Download (PDF) The Long-Run Impact of the Dissolution of the English Monasteries Abstract We examine the long-run...
Social Origins of Dictatorships: Elite Networks and Political Transitions in Haiti
Citation Naidu, Suresh, James A Robinson, and Lauren E Young. Working Paper. “Social Origins of Dictatorships: Elite Networks and Political Transitions in Haiti”. Download (PDF) Social Origins of Dictatorships: Elite Networks and Political Transitions in Haiti...
Asymmetric Growth and Institutions in an Interdependent World
Citation Acemoglu, Daron, James A Robinson, and Thierry Verdier. 2017. “Asymmetric Growth and Institutions in an Interdependent World”. Journal of Political Economy 125(5):1245-1305. Download (PDF) Asymmetric Growth and Institutions in an Interdependent World
The Evolution of Culture and Institutions: Evidence from the Kuba Kingdom
Citation Lowes, Sara, Nathan Nunn, James A Robinson, and Jonathan L Weigel. 2017. “The Evolution of Culture and Institutions: Evidence from the Kuba Kingdom”. Econometrica 85(4):1065-1091. Download (PDF) The Evolution of Culture and Institutions: Evidence from the...
Why did the West Extend the Franchise? A Correction
Citation Acemoglu, Daron, and James A Robinson. Working Paper. “Why did the West Extend the Franchise? A Correction”. Download (PDF) Why did the West Extend the Franchise? A Correction