Filter by:

The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau

A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.

James Robinson

A nation's prosperity relies on its institutions: the more inclusive, the better.

2024 Nobel Prize Winner in Economics | Famed Economist and Political Scientist | Co-author of Why Nations Fail

Lavin Exclusive Speaker

Co-author of the international bestseller Why Nations Fail, 2024 Nobel Prize winner James Robinson reveals the political foundations upon which our economic growth lies. Why do some countries thrive economically, while others fall into poverty? What does China’s unprecedented growth mean for America’s rank as the world’s largest economy? And how do our man-made institutions influence economic success (or lack thereof)? This economist and political scientist’s eye-opening talks draw from decades of original research to explain why a radically inclusive economic model is beneficial for our freedom, prosperity, and innovation.

“The Narrow Corridor takes us on a fascinating journey, across continents and through human history, to discover the critical ingredient of liberty. In these times, there can be no more important search—nor any more important book.”— George Akerlof, Nobel laureate in Economics

Our institutions are the overlooked key to strong countries and democracies, says economist and Nobel Prize winner James Robinson. James won the 2024 Nobel Prize for Economics for his groundbreaking work on the vital role of institutions in prosperity and innovation, encapsulated in his international bestseller Why Nations Fail (co-authored with his frequent collaborator, MIT’s Daron Acemoglu). Drawing on fascinating real-world stories like the town on the U.S./Mexico border that has a dramatic difference in prosperity on either side of the border, James reveals how we can strengthen our institutions—and through them, our communities, our countries, and our world.

In his latest book The Narrow Corridor—also co-authored with Daron Acemoglu—he explores the tenuous conditions of freedom, and why it flourishes in some states over others. From the American Civil Rights movement, to China’s Imperial traditions, to Europe’s fraught recent history, James deftly shows us that liberty is achieved only when a delicate balance between state and society is formed—one which, if left unchecked can easily lend itself to authoritarianism or anarchy. Incredibly relevant in today’s destabilizing moment, The Narrow Corridor was named one of the Best Books of the Year by both the Financial Times and Kirkus Reviews, with the latter calling it “Provocative and intuitively correct. An endlessly rewarding book.”

“Why Nations Fail is a splendid piece of scholarship and a showcase of economic rigor.”— The Wall Street Journal

James’s previous book, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty was the culmination of 15 years of groundbreaking research. The book explores the gap between rich and poor countries with historical evidence that dates all the way back to the Roman Empire, and crisscrosses the globe from Latin America to the United States. To date, Why Nations Fail has been translated into 32 languages and made both the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more.

Prior to that, James and Daron authored Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy together—another path-breaking tome that examines why different social groups prefer different political institutions. Commended as “brilliant,” by the Financial Times, this book offers a framework for understanding the very creation and consolidation of democracy itself.

James is the Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, as well as the Institute Director of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. He was previously on the faculty at Harvard University, where he was the Wilbur A. Cowett Professor of Government. Robinson also previously served as an advisor to the World Bank’s Report on Governance. He holds a Ph.D from Yale University, an MA from the University of Warwick, and a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Lavin Exclusive Speakers

Angela Duckworth

Author of Grit, the #1 New York Times Bestseller | Pioneering Researcher on Grit, Perseverance, and the Science of Success

Daron Acemoglu

2024 Nobel Prize Winner | 3rd Most Cited Economist in the World | MIT Institute Professor | Bestselling Co-Author of Why Nations Fail and Power and Progress

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Creator of The 1619 Project | Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-Winning 1619 Project Hulu Docuseries | MacArthur Genius

Greg Hoffman

Nike's Former Chief Marketing Officer | Author of Emotion by Design

Nicholas Thompson

CEO of The Atlantic | Former Editor-in-Chief of WIRED

Speech Topics

Economics

Why Nations Fail

Why are some nations rich and others poor? Why is the world divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine? In this riveting talk, James Robinson reveals the factors that make the city of Nogales, a place half in Arizona and half in Mexico, outperform its southern neighbor. He explains why Botswana succeeds while neighboring Congo does not, and, among other striking stories, he explains why North Korea fails where South Korea thrives.

In speaking on why the average person in the U.S. is ten times as prosperous as the average Guatemalan, 20 times as prosperous as the average North Korean, and 40 times as prosperous as those living in the Congo, this Nobel Prize winner presents new insights on the crucial role of incentives and institutions, as well as the absolutely essential role of strong governments. This sweeping, detailed, and highly optimistic talk refutes much of what we know about why some countries are mired in poverty while others are perpetually successful — and it lays out a roadmap for real change.