OTTAWA, ON (October 11, 2018): The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is delighted that MLI Senior Fellow in Urbanization and Economic Development Paul Romer was selected as co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics.
One of the world’s most prominent economists, Paul Romer has been doing path-breaking work in understanding what role governments can play in fostering technological innovation and economic growth. According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Romer was awarded the Nobel Prize for addressing “some of our time’s most basic and pressing questions about how we create long-term sustained and sustainable economic growth.”
Paul Romer’s work at MLI has focused on how governments can best fulfill the poverty-reducing potential of cities. That’s the principle behind his concept of a charter city – a special zone in developing countries that would allow reform-minded politicians to apply new rules designed to make the city more attractive to both residents and investors.
The concept of a charter city was explored in his co-authored MLI paper, Success and the City: How charter cities could transform the developing world.
At the Nobel Prize press conference, Romer noted that “Humans are capable of amazing accomplishments if we set our minds to it.” Here at MLI, we are honoured to have Paul Romer on our distinguished list of fellows helping us strive towards achieving impact in the public policy arena.
For more information, please contact:
David Watson
MLI Managing Editor and Communications Director
613.482.8237 x103
david.watson@macdonaldlaurier.ca
