Luiss Research Day 2026: Nobel Prize winner James Robinson to be a guest of the University
The 2024 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, James Robinson, was a guest at Luiss for Research Day 2026 – Political Institutions and the Wealth of Nations, which took place on Monday, 26 October, at the Viale Romania campus in Rome.
The initiative brought together scholars from Italian and international universities to explore the relationship between political institutions, economic growth, and national prosperity, starting with one of the fundamental questions in economic research: why do some countries achieve higher levels of development than others?
James Robinson's contribution to the study of institutions and economic development
Following the institutional welcome from Luiss Rector Paolo Boccardelli and the opening of the event by Vice-Rector for Research Stefano Manzocchi, Professor Giulia Tura introduced the keynote lecture by James Robinson. In 2024, Robinson was awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, jointly with Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson, for their research on the formation of institutions and their impact on economic prosperity.
At the heart of Robinson's research is the relationship between the distribution of political power and economic development. By analysing historical processes and the varying paths of societal development, his work has helped to show how inclusive institutions – those capable of fostering investment and innovation – can support prosperity, whereas extractive institutions, characterised by the concentration of power and economic opportunities, can hinder it.
Luiss research at the heart of international debate
The day continued with the ceremony for the annual awards recognising research and its impact on society: the Luiss Research Award, which celebrates the scientific publications and competitive project proposals of the University’s faculty and researchers, and the Luiss Knowledge Sharing and Social Impact Award, given for Third Mission activities.
This was followed by a series of scientific workshops attended by Raquel Fernández from New York University, Josiah Ober from Stanford University (winner of the 2025 Balzan Prize for Classical Studies), Luigi Pascali from Luiss and EIEF, Nancy Qian from Northwestern University, Guido Tabellini from Bocconi University and IGIER, and Hans-Joachim Voth from the University of Zurich.
Research Day forms part of Luiss’s ongoing efforts to strengthen scientific research and enhance its international profile. As the Rector pointed out, over the past three years, the Economics and Finance faculty has grown by 15 professors, 11 of whom were recruited from abroad, while the number of European Research Council grants hosted by the Department has doubled. Furthermore, over the past twelve months, researchers from the University have published eight articles in the five leading international scientific journals in economics.
These results demonstrate Luiss’s commitment to fostering an academic environment that is open to international engagement, capable of attracting talented individuals and supporting independent, rigorous research, and which contributes to our understanding of the major economic and social transformations of our time.