Available to book
James Robinson
Economics
Global Economy
Social Mobility
Book James Robinson, Nobel Prize-winning economist and political institutions expert. Robinson works with business leaders and policymakers on economic growth, political systems, and global power shifts, delivering insights from bestselling author of Why Nations Fail and University of Chicago professor.
Economist
Nobel Prize
Political Analyst
James Robinson is an economist and political scientist whose research explains why some nations prosper while others remain trapped in poverty, offering audiences a framework grounded in decades of original inquiry. Robinson won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics and co-authored the international bestseller Why Nations Fail. He holds a joint appointment at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy and Department of Political Science, where his work bridges economic theory and political institutions. His research demonstrates that man-made institutions, not geography or culture, determine whether countries grow or stagnate. Robinson draws on case studies spanning centuries and continents to show how inclusive political systems create the conditions for innovation and broad-based prosperity. His analysis of China's rapid economic rise and its implications for American global standing gives business leaders and policymakers a clearer picture of shifting power dynamics. Audiences leave Robinson's talks with a deeper understanding of how political structures shape economic outcomes, practical insight into why inclusive institutions outperform extractive ones, and a historically grounded perspective on where global economic power is heading. His arguments are backed by peer-reviewed research and tested against real-world examples from both thriving and failing states. Book James Robinson to give your audience the rare combination of Nobel-level scholarship delivered with clarity and relevance.
Robinson's Nobel-winning research on institutional economics gives leadership teams a rigorous framework for understanding geopolitical risk and long-term market stability. His work on China's trajectory and the mechanics of inclusive versus extractive systems translates directly into strategic planning for organisations navigating shifting global power structures.
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frequently asked questions
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Email james.robinson@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm James's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
James Robinson uses a case study method drawn from centuries of cross-continental historical evidence to demonstrate how political institutions determine economic outcomes, anchoring theoretical arguments in peer-reviewed research tested against both thriving and failing states.
James Robinson speaks on the institutional drivers of national prosperity, the political conditions that enable or obstruct economic growth, and the shifting dynamics of global power including China's rise and its implications for the United States. He was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for his research demonstrating that man-made institutions determine whether countries grow or stagnate, work he also set out in the international bestseller Why Nations Fail.
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