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Academic dispute between Daron Acemoğlu and The Economist

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2026-08-22 00:00 UTC → 2026-08-23 16:14 UTC · added removed

Nobel laureate Daron Acemoğlu has entered a dispute with The Economist following a critical article regarding his academic research and political commentary. Acemoğlu described the publication’s critique as an “assassination of reputation.” The initial criticism from The Economist Economist, titled “The world’s most influential economist is oddly unconvincing,” questioned the persuasiveness of the research conducted by Acemoğlu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson—work that earned the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics. The magazine raised concerns about the reliability of historical mortality data used in his studies and cited past academic skepticism regarding studies, citing a Nobel Committee report that noted certain mortality figures used in his use of data proxies. research were “superficial” in places. In a formal response, sharp rebuttal, Acemoğlu characterized the publication as a “hit piece” and a “smear piece,” arguing that the critique lacks scientific rigor. He defended his 33-year career, stating that while he welcomes scientific debate on topics like colonial legacies and artificial intelligence, the magazine relied on “weak and loosely connected complaints.” He Acemoğlu criticized the publication for using insufficient sources, such as a single blog post, post by Noah Smith, and for relying on the views of anonymous economists. He further contended that the article selectively used past constructive criticisms from scholars like Tyler Cowen and Francis Fukuyama to present a skewed narrative. Acemoğlu also noted the timing of the critique, suggesting it coincided suspiciously with the release of his new book, ‘What Happened to Liberal Democracy?’, and argued that the magazine’s review inaccurately framed the book’s focus.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-23 16:14 UTC Academic dispute between Daron Acemoğlu and The Economist
  2. 2026-08-22 00:00 UTC Academic dispute between Daron Acemoğlu and The Economist

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