Daron Acemoglu

Institute Professor

Daron Acemoglu is a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of "Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty."

Latest

I’ve Studied How Democracies Fail. Here’s My Unified Theory of Trump

I’ve Studied How Democracies Fail. Here’s My Unified Theory of Trump

There’s a through line that runs from tariffs to toppling a foreign leader. It’s all about expanding the power of the presidency.

January 12, 2026

January 12, 2026

I’ve Studied How Democracies Fail. Here’s My Unified Theory of Trump

There’s a through line that runs from tariffs to toppling a foreign leader. It’s all about expanding the power of the presidency.

I’ve Studied How Democracies Fail. Here’s My Unified Theory of Trump

August 30, 2018

August 30, 2018

OpinionDaron Acemoglu

To Go Forward, Turkey Must Look Back

Ankara, struggling with an economy gone wrong, can learn from the things it once did right.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan And Prime Minister Binali Yildrim Speak At Yes Referendum Campaign Rally

June 17, 2018

June 17, 2018

OpinionDaron Acemoglu

The Democracy Dividend: Faster Growth

Contrary to popular misconception, authoritarian regimes rarely get the job done.

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”