Paul Collier

Sir Paul Collier is a distinguished Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, where he also directs the Centre for the Study of African Economies. He serves as the Oxford Academic Director of the International Growth Centre, a collaboration between the London School of Economics and Oxford University. Professor Collier has established himself as a leading authority on development economics, particularly focusing on African economies, poverty reduction, and the political economy of development.

His academic journey includes significant public service, having served as Director of the World Bank Research Development Department from 1998 to 2003. He currently advises the International Monetary Fund Strategy and Policy Department and writes regularly for major publications including The Independent and The New York Times. His extensive contributions to economic thought have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards.

Professor Collier's research interests span a wide range of critical development issues. He has made significant contributions to understanding the "bottom billion" - the poorest populations in the world - and has developed innovative approaches to addressing regional inequality, natural resource management, and the political barriers to development. His work consistently bridges academic rigor with practical policy applications, making complex economic theories accessible to policymakers and the general public alike.

His publications reveal a consistent focus on practical solutions to development challenges. Recent works have examined urbanization in developing countries, the relationship between elections and economic performance, infrastructure investment in Africa, and the cultural foundations of economic success or failure. His research demonstrates how institutional design, cultural factors, and appropriate policy frameworks can enable neglected regions to "spiral up" toward prosperity.

• A.SK Social Science Award (2013)
• Arthur Ross Prize (for The Bottom Billion)
• Handesblatt Prize (for The Future of Capitalism)
• Adam Smith Prize by Glasgow's Philosophical Society (2023)
• Global Citizenship Award by Belgium's cooperative movement (2018)

Professor Collier is actively engaged in advising governments on practical approaches to regional renewal. His recent work emphasizes the importance of local agency, collective learning, and moral leadership in addressing the challenges faced by neglected communities in both developed and developing countries. He challenges conventional economic orthodoxies that prioritize market forces alone and advocates for more nuanced, context-specific policy approaches that recognize the complex interplay of economic, social, and political factors in development processes.