Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu explores the rise and decline of liberal democracy, what drove its current crisis, and a new path toward shared prosperity.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM EDT
Check-in: 5:00 PM
Format: In-person only
Tickets: $25–$44 + HST
Location:
Desautels Hall
105 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E6
Agenda
5:00 PM – Check-in opens
5:30 PM – Fireside chat + moderated audience Q&A
About the Book
From Daron Acemoglu, 2024 Nobel laureate in economics and coauthor of Why Nations Fail, comes an ambitious inquiry into one of the biggest stories in global politics over the last hundred years: the rise and fall of liberal democracy.
Acemoglu examines why liberal democracy flourished when it delivered shared prosperity, democratic governance and the free pursuit of knowledge, and why those foundations have weakened in recent decades.
Drawing on economics, political history, technological change and shifts in society, he explores the successes and failures of liberal democracy and proposes a new way forward centred on shared prosperity, empowered communities and a broader range of values and views.
About the Speaker
Daron Acemoglu
Institute Professor, MIT
Daron Acemoglu is an Institute Professor at MIT and recipient of the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. His books include the New York Times bestseller Why Nations Fail, The Narrow Corridor and Power and Progress. His honours also include the John Bates Clark Medal, the BBVA Award and the Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics.
About the Moderator
Matina Stevis-Gridneff
Canada Bureau Chief, The New York Times
Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the Canada bureau chief for The New York Times. She previously served as Brussels bureau chief, leading coverage of the European Union, and was a finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting as part of a team investigating policies that contributed to the spread of COVID-19.
Event Logistics
Rotman Events is committed to accessibility for all people. Please contact us no later than two weeks in advance of the event with any accommodation requirements at events@rotman.utoronto.ca.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Refunds will only be issued for cancellations received in writing no later than 24 hours prior to the event. Please email events@rotman.utoronto.ca for processing.
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