Avinash K. Dixit
Avinash K. Dixit is an Indian-born economist, author and distinguished international figure in the world of economics. He is currently the John Hummel Professor of Economics at Princeton University and a Senior Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Dixit’s career has spanned four decades, during which time he has worked and authored numerous publications, several of which are considered to be classics in the field.
Born in Feroke, India in 1944, Dixit's academic career started at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, where he obtained a B.A. in Mathematics in 1963 and a M.A. in Economics in 1965. In 1968, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Warwick, UK. After taking a number of teaching posts, in 1997 he accepted a position at Princeton University.
Dixit first came to prominence in the 1970s with his books Theory of International Trade and Public Economics. In the ensuing decades his influence extended to the development of game theory and its uses in political economy, with his book Game Theory Evolving being among his most important works. Among his other notable books are Investment under uncertainty, The art of strategy, and The Making of Economic Policy all of which cover vital topics in Economics.
In terms of awards and recognitions, Dixit won the prestigious John Bates Clark Medal for outstanding work by an American economist under the age of forty in 1984. He also received the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economics, Finance and Management in 2011 for his fundamental contributions to economic theory. Along with other notable works, his most recent book is Indian and Global Economic Integration: A Different Perspective which discusses India's experience with foreign trade and investment policies, and cautions against the potential dangers of "hyper-globalisation".
Beginning in the 1980s, Dixit's practical policy prescriptions moved him into the realm of public policy and international bodies such as The World Bank, The International Monetary Fund and the European Union. He has even served as an advisor to the United Nations(UN). In perhaps his most notable public service role, he was a member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the Director General of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) during the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in the mid-1980s.
In addition to his knowledge and expertise in the field of Economics, Dixit has written about a number of topics. His essays, “India’s Macroeconomic Management” and “Technological and Structural Change: A Reflection from India”, focus on important economic issues and policies in India. In “The Mystery of Trade Volume: A Review of Theories”, Dixit presents an analysis of trade in terms of increasing returns to scale and other factors. He has also published papers on topics such as international finance, public economics, game theory, and growth theory.
In summary, Avinash K. Dixit is a distinguished economics figure and one of the most influential voices globally on economic policy. With several decades of contributions, his intellectual influence and policy prescriptions have been crucial in generating an understanding of fundamental economic concepts. His books and papers have attracted much attention and stand as important pieces of work for both economists and informed readers.
