News

Philippe Aghion Received an Honorary Doctorate from Charles University

28 May, 2026

Charles University awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Economic Sciences, honoris causa, to Professor Philippe Mario Aghio, PhD, a Nobel Prize laureate in Economic Sciences whose scholarly work has made a profound contribution to modern economics, particularly in the fields of economic growth, innovation, competition, institutions, and long-term technological development.

Philippe Aghion is Professor of Economics at the Collège de France, INSEAD, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is also a member of the Executive and Supervisory Committee at CERGE-EI, a joint workplace of Charles University and the Economics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Together with Peter Howitt, Aghion is especially associated with the development of Schumpeterian growth theory, which places innovation and creative destruction at the heart of economic progress.

His research has significantly shaped our understanding of how prosperity emerges, what role institutions, education, and competition play in economic development, and how modern societies can foster innovation while preserving social inclusion. His work is also highly relevant to current debates on artificial intelligence, structural change in European economies, and the risks associated with market concentration.

An important part of the recognition was Professor Aghion’s longstanding engagement with the development of economics and doctoral education associated with Charles University through CERGE-EI. In this capacity, he has contributed to strengthening academic standards, fostering high-quality research, and enhancing the institution’s international standing.

The honorary doctorate ceremony took place on Thursday, 28 May 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Great Hall of the historic Carolinum building.

By awarding Professor Aghion an honorary doctorate, Charles University recognized a scholar of exceptional originality and influence whose work has deepened our understanding of prosperity, progress, innovation, and institutional development.