Dr. James Robinson

Biography

James Robinson is the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor and a University Professor at the University of Chicago, specializing in economics and political science. His influential research primarily focuses on political economic development and the relationships between political power and institutions in promoting economic prosperity. Robinson's work explores the underlying causes of economic and political divergence throughout history, employing both mathematical quantitative methods and qualitative fieldwork methodologies common in social sciences. He has a particular interest in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Robinson has conducted extensive fieldwork and data collection in countries including Bolivia, Colombia, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. He has published three books, co-authored with Daron Acemoglu, including 'Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy,' which proposed a theory regarding the emergence and stability of democracy and dictatorship. His notable work, 'Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty,' has been translated into 41 languages since its publication in 2012, encapsulating joint research on comparative development. His most recent book, 'The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies and the Fate of Liberty,' examines the incessant struggle between states and society, detailing the deep historical processes that have shaped the modern world.

Research Interests

Experience