The Díaz-Alejandro Prize was established by the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA) to honor the memory and contribution of Carlos F. Diaz-Alejandro, and to encourage high quality research on economic issues relevant to Latin America region.

Every two years, the prize is awarded to an individual who has made a significant contribution or a body of contributions to the economic analysis of issues of interest to the region. Previous Prize recipients include: Edmar Bacha, Jere Behrman, Guillermo Calvo, Rudiger Dornbusch, Sebastian Edwards, Arnold Harberger, Hugo Hopenhayn, Carmen Reinhart and Orazio Attanasio.

Over 15 candidates nominated by members of the Association were considered for the 2018 Prize. To reach its decision, the Selection Committee assessed the overall impact of the candidate’s research, its relevance for Latin America’s development problems and the candidate’s commitment to the Association. Mr. James Robinson was chosen as the winner.

Mr. Robinson is the Dr. Richard L. Pearson professor of Global Conflict Studies and professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and faculty director of the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He studied economics at the London School of Economics, the University of Warwick and Yale University.  Previously, has taught in the Department of Economics at the University of Melbourne, the Department of Economics at the University of Southern California, the Departments of Economics and Political Science at the University of California at Berkeley and the Department of Government at Harvard.

His main research interests are in comparative economics and political development with a focus on the long run with a particular interest in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. He is currently conducting research in Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Haiti and Colombia.

Professor Robinson will deliver the Diaz-Alejandro Lecture during LACEA-LAMES 2018 Annual Meeting in Guayaquil.

Taken from: http://vox.lacea.org/