Daron Acemoglu (born 1967) is a Turkish-American economist and Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A leading scholar in political economy and institutional economics, his research explores how institutions shape economic development, technological progress, and long-term prosperity. He was awarded the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, together with Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson, for research on the role of institutions in economic development. His best-known book, "Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty," argues that inclusive political and economic institutions are the fundamental drivers of national prosperity, drawing on historical evidence from around the world.