Philippe Aghion

Philippe Aghion is a globally respected economist whose work has shaped how governments, institutions and business leaders understand innovation and long-term growth. He is Professor at the Collège de France, Kurt Björklund Chaired Professor in Innovation and Growth at INSEAD and Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics. One of his most significant achievement is being awarded the 2025 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, recognising his groundbreaking contributions to the theory of growth through creative destruction.

Philippe’s early career was defined by intellectual breadth and academic rigour. Born in Paris and raised in a highly creative environment, he developed a deep curiosity about how ideas shape society. He trained in mathematics at École normale supérieure de Cachan before specialising in economics at Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. He completed his PhD at Harvard University in 1987, a formative period that grounded his analytical style and international outlook. Shortly after, he began his academic career at MIT as an Assistant Professor, followed by research roles at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. A defining early milestone was his appointment as Deputy Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, where he gained first-hand exposure to economic transition, policy design and institutional reform.

Over the following decades, Philippe established himself as one of the world’s leading thinkers on innovation and growth. Together with Peter Howitt, he pioneered Schumpeterian Growth Theory, now a central framework for understanding how innovation, competition and firm dynamics drive long-term prosperity. Their work, often referred to as the Aghion-Howitt model, transformed both academic research and policy debate. He has held some of the most prestigious academic positions in the world, including Chair of Economics of Institutions, Innovation and Growth at the Collège de France, Centennial Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, and Academic Director of INSEAD’s Economics of Innovation Lab. His honours include the Yrjö Jahnsson Award, the John von Neumann Award, the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award, and election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also served as President of the European Economic Association and has advised the United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

As a speaker, Philippe Aghion is valued for his ability to connect rigorous economic theory with real-world decision making. He speaks on innovation-led growth, creative destruction, competition policy, inequality, education and sustainable prosperity. These themes are critical for leaders navigating technological disruption, productivity challenges and social change. His talks leave decision makers better equipped to foster long-term economic resilience in an uncertain world.