Francis J. Doyle III

Provost and Professor of Engineering and Neuroscience, Brown University

“Peter and his collaborator, Philippe Aghion, exemplify the extraordinary talent that advances knowledge and informs our understanding of concepts that shape our world. Peter is a living example of a world-class economist who worked for years as an educator/scholar at the center of the University's commitment to student-centered learning. At the same time, he engaged in collaborative research, deep analysis and exploration of issues that are at the heart of national, indeed international, questions of economic policy. Peter and the other Nobel winners this year play an important role in advancing their fields and engaging in the deep questions that lead to new ways of thinking about 21st-century issues. Indeed, at this very moment, there are so many questions about the disruptive nature of artificial intelligence, which will surely benefit from the application of Peter’s good work. Even as he studied technology and innovation, his own work reflects innovation at the heart of what so many researchers do every day. And he did that at Brown while teaching the next generation of scholars, leaders and problem solvers. We celebrate Peter for serving as a leading example of an intellectually curious mind whose work is now making an impact beyond Brown.”

Boris Gershman, Brown Class of 2012 (Ph.D.)

Associate Professor of Economics, American University 

“I have had the privilege of knowing Peter as his student, teaching and research assistant, and coauthor. His generosity, open-mindedness and unwavering support meant the world to me as a graduate student and early-career researcher. Peter remains a model of intellectual curiosity and kindness — a remarkable scholar whose groundbreaking work continues to inspire generations of economists.”

Michal Jerzmanowski, Brown Class of 2003 (Ph.D.)

Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Clemson University

“I still remember the day we heard that Peter would be joining the faculty. Everyone in the Robinson Hall basement was thrilled, especially those of us in macro and growth [economics], because he was already such a big name. What we didn’t know, but quickly realized, is that Peter is also a remarkable teacher and adviser. Whenever he spoke about economics, not even necessarily macro, it was with a clarity and depth of insight that made everything click. Having him as my adviser was amazing. My dissertation would not have been the same without his help.”

Stelios Michalopoulos

Brown University Professor of Political Economy

“Peter Howitt’s well-deserved recognition further cements the University’s economics department’s standing as a leading center for research on economic growth and comparative development. I got to know Peter in 2003, when I was a second-year graduate student at Brown, and he invited me to be his research assistant for a paper he was writing with Philippe Aghion and David Mayer-Foulkes on financial development and cross-country convergence. He was a true mentor who was patient with my onboarding and my often naive questions. In a nutshell, he is an exemplary scholar. Many graduate students benefited from his sharp intellect and affable personality — a true intellectual giant. In 2013, we co-taught a second-year graduate course, and it was hands-down the best class I have ever taken and taught, and at the same time.”

Malhar Nabar, Brown Class of 2004 (Ph.D.)

Assistant Director, European Department, and Mission Chief at the International Monetary Fund 

“Peter Howitt supervised my Ph.D. dissertation together with David Weil. I recall many conversations with Peter in Robinson Hall and on Waterman Street, marveling at how he translated the tech innovation process into elegant conceptual models and being ever grateful for his patience as I fumbled through the same. One memory stands out: I was struggling over a long proof in the later stages of the dissertation. Peter and I met early in the afternoon, I showed him what I had worked on, and then I went down to my basement desk in Robinson Hall. Several hours later, before heading out for the day, Peter stopped by. He had continued thinking about the proof despite other commitments on his schedule and gently inquired if I had considered a different approach — which very quickly helped me get around the roadblock. Peter’s example — his dedication to his students and his work, his commitment to using the tools of economics to improve social outcomes — has been an inspiration throughout my career.”

Christina H. Paxson

President and Professor of Economics and International and Public Affairs, Brown University

“We are so proud that Professor Howitt's work has earned this incredible honor… This moment underscores the importance of research and the role it plays in shaping a rapidly changing society. Research is at the heart of so many innovations, transforming our world, and it's wonderful to see Professor Howitt and the other prize winners recognized for their remarkable contributions. Personally, I’m especially excited by this prize because as an economist myself, I’ve actually studied the research on which it’s based… Over the course of Peter’s long and productive career, he’s also made important contributions to other areas, most notably in monetary policy, inflation and employment. We are fortunate that such an influential economist has spent a large portion of his career at Brown University.”

Kareen Rozen

Professor and Chair of Economics, Brown University

“I spent all morning talking with many of my longer-serving colleagues about Peter, both inside and outside of his field, and hearing what an incredible scholar, intellectual giant and simply wonderful person Peter is. He's admired and respected by his colleagues. Everyone I spoke to mentioned what a kind, supportive and wise person he is. At Brown, Peter continued his deep contributions to the study of economic growth. As my colleagues in that field will tell you, the work his Nobel Prize cited was a milestone achievement… [It] opened important new avenues studying a critical question: How do the institutions we use in markets impact the incentives to innovate? And how does this shape the path of economic growth? Peter spent his years at Brown continuing to work on this agenda, understanding the implications and synthesizing his insights on innovation… Peter was also deeply committed to graduate education at Brown. Even after his retirement, he continued to teach in the macroeconomic sequence. We are honored to have had Peter as part of our department, and proud of his long-lasting contributions to our department, to economic growth, and to macroeconomics more broadly.”

Bulent Unel, Brown Class of 2004 (Ph.D.)

Professor of Economics, Louisiana State University 

“I am delighted to hear that Professor Howitt has won this year's Nobel Prize in Economics. I have fond memories of his class on economic growth — he was truly inspiring, presenting the broader context and highlighting the current state of the literature. His contributions to endogenous growth theory motivated me to pursue a career in this field. Additionally, he was always kind and readily available to help students outside of class. This prize is well deserved and long overdue.” 

David Weil

Brown University Professor of Economics

“Peter Howitt's work with Philippe Aghion provided a tractable, intuitive and elegant model with which to understand the process by which competition among firms for market power results in technological progress and economic growth. The general outlines of the issue were already well understood, but the Aghion-Howitt model unlocked numerous possibilities for practical and quantitative application in areas such as competition policy, intellectual property, international trade, environmental economics and many more. Their work is a standard part of the toolkit for any economist who thinks about economic growth. Peter trained cohorts of graduate students in how to combine theoretical rigor with creativity in economic analysis. He conveyed a sense of excitement about economic research in general and about the topic of economic growth in particular. He helped establish Brown as a center of cutting-edge research on the topic of growth — a status it has maintained even after his retirement.”

Joshua Wilde, Brown Class of 2011 (Ph.D.)

Professor of Economics, University of Oxford 

“I have fond memories of Peter, be it as a mentor, teacher or supervisor. What struck me most about him was how unassuming and kind he was. He was able to disarm a class with his sense of humor, and more often focused on when we were right than when we were wrong. Although he was often the expert in the room, his kind and unassuming personality allowed me the space to learn without being intimidated, and to be wrong without being ashamed. In a profession where many seek to set themselves apart, Peter stood out as one who would gently help guide those to where he was.”