The Works of the 2024 Nobel Prize Winners - A Discussion

2024 End-of-Year Meeting and Topic Discussion -

The Works of the 2024 Nobel Prize Winners, Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson

ESA NSW Branch is delighted to have Professors Hugh Harley (USyd) and David Orsmond (McQ) talk to us about the fascinating and important works of the 2024 Nobel Prize Winners. 

The key reference is Acemoglu and Robinson, Why Nations Fail, The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty, 2012, with the critical focus on the role of political institutions in economic prosperity (and failure). The most recent work is Acemoglu and Johnson, 2023, Power and Progress, with a stronger focus on technology and prosperity.

Following their presentations, Dr Aruna Sathanapally (CEO of Grattan Institute) will kick off the responses from the floor and the meeting will continue with views and questions from the audience. Dr Peter Abelson (ESA NSW President) will moderate discussions and give some relevant anecdotes from some of the 10 “developing” countries that he has worked in.

This event is in-person only.

We hope you will be able to join us at this entertaining End-Of-Year event which will be followed by an opportunity for members to network and catch-up over light refreshments. 

About the Speakers

David Orsmond is Professor of Economics, Macquarie Business School and Director of Policy and Communications, Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence at Macquarie University. He previously worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia, holding senior positions in the Financial Stability and Economic Analysis Departments. Dr Orsmond also spent an extended period at the International Monetary Fund working on economic stabilisation and technical assistance issues across numerous countries. He has written on a range of topics, including the emergence of artificial intelligence, regulatory policies in the financial sector, China’s economy and the mining sector. He holds a PhD from Duke University, a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney and completed studies in economic policy at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany.

Hugh Harley is Professor of Practice (Global Economy) at the University of Sydney. He had a thirty-two year career in banking and consulting, across the public and private sectors, executive and non-executive roles, and Australia and Asia.  Economics was the thread that ran through that career. Hugh returned to the School of Economics in 2019 to focus on teaching long-run economic history. He also chairs Cancer Council Australia.

Dr Aruna Sathanapally joined the Grattan Institute as CEO in February 2024. She heads a team of leading policy thinkers, researching and advocating policy to improve the lives of Australians. A former NSW barrister and senior public servant, Aruna has worked on the design of public institutions, economic policy, and evidence-based public policy and regulation for close to twenty years.

About the Moderator

Peter Abelson (B.A. Oxford University, M.Sc., London School of Economics, Ph.D. London University) Peter was Professor Economics, Macquarie University, 2001-06; Visiting Fellow, Sydney University, 2006-12 and has worked in 10 developing countries. From 1993 to 2006, Peter was National Secretary of ESA. Since 2006, Peter has been an ongoing part-time economic advisor to NSW Treasury. From 2012 to 2017, he was first popularly elected Mayor of Mosman Council. Peter has been long-time Director of Applied Economics P/L. Peter is currently Hon Professor, Macquarie University, lecturing in cost-benefit analysis, and a Visiting Fellow at Crawford School, ANU. 

Details and Registration