19 October 2024

Available for over a year

The question of why some countries are rich and some poor has been described as the most important question in economics.

Perhaps that is why the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson for their work on the importance of institutions in the economic fortunes of nation states.

Tim Harford explains the economic theory that underpins their award.

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald

Reporter: Tim Harford

Producer: Bethan Ashmead Latham

Series producer: Tom Colls

Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison

Sound mix: Giles Aspen

Editor: Richard Vadon