Daron Acemoglu

We almost said exactly the same thing, which was like, this is what economists study. But over there is all the things that I'm really passionate about. And then we were like, OK, you know, you only live once. Let's let's figure out how to bring these things together.

The thing that we latched onto is it's got to do with colonialism.

The thing that we latched onto is it's got to do with colonialism.

The thing that we latched onto is it's got to do with colonialism.

You know, why are institutions in Nigeria, you know, so lousy compared to the United States or Canada? You know, well, that's got something to do with the very different types of institutions that were created in the colonial world.

You know, why are institutions in Nigeria, you know, so lousy compared to the United States or Canada? You know, well, that's got something to do with the very different types of institutions that were created in the colonial world.

You know, why are institutions in Nigeria, you know, so lousy compared to the United States or Canada? You know, well, that's got something to do with the very different types of institutions that were created in the colonial world.

And so we started reading like mad about colonialism and like trying to understand the incentives and what to explain different institutions. Why did such good institutions emerge in the United States and why not in Nigeria?

And so we started reading like mad about colonialism and like trying to understand the incentives and what to explain different institutions. Why did such good institutions emerge in the United States and why not in Nigeria?

And so we started reading like mad about colonialism and like trying to understand the incentives and what to explain different institutions. Why did such good institutions emerge in the United States and why not in Nigeria?

The historical mortality environment for Europeans enormously influenced whether or not these places became settler colonies.

The historical mortality environment for Europeans enormously influenced whether or not these places became settler colonies.

The historical mortality environment for Europeans enormously influenced whether or not these places became settler colonies.

But then several early colonizing attempts were basically decimated by tropical diseases and then decided like, OK, forget that. Let's go to Massachusetts. Like it's rocky. It's kind of unappealing. But we're not all going to die of tropical diseases.

But then several early colonizing attempts were basically decimated by tropical diseases and then decided like, OK, forget that. Let's go to Massachusetts. Like it's rocky. It's kind of unappealing. But we're not all going to die of tropical diseases.

But then several early colonizing attempts were basically decimated by tropical diseases and then decided like, OK, forget that. Let's go to Massachusetts. Like it's rocky. It's kind of unappealing. But we're not all going to die of tropical diseases.

The very distinguished economist came in and asked us, so what are you guys up to? And Daron, like all excited, explained this idea of sort of historical mortality of European settlers. And he just laughed himself silly. He thought it was the most ridiculous idea he'd ever heard in his life.

The very distinguished economist came in and asked us, so what are you guys up to? And Daron, like all excited, explained this idea of sort of historical mortality of European settlers. And he just laughed himself silly. He thought it was the most ridiculous idea he'd ever heard in his life.

The very distinguished economist came in and asked us, so what are you guys up to? And Daron, like all excited, explained this idea of sort of historical mortality of European settlers. And he just laughed himself silly. He thought it was the most ridiculous idea he'd ever heard in his life.

People were just somehow so fascinated by it. And we were like, oh, man, you know, we hit it out the park, basically. It's just like the... You could just see people loved it and they found it fascinating. It was really kind of elating. That's what I remember.