American economist Charles Manski, a professor at Northwestern University, has been named the laureate of the prestigious Premio Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento award in the Economics, Finance, and Management category. He was recognized for his pioneering work on measuring uncertainty in economic research and its application in public policy analysis. The jury described him as a "key figure" in the field of econometrics, whose fifty-year body of work has profoundly influenced empirical research in education, healthcare, labor markets, and social policy.

Key Figure in Econometrics

Charles Manski was described in the verdict as a "key figure" in the development of modern econometric methods. His work over five decades has significantly transformed how economists draw inferences from data.

Pioneering Research on Uncertainty

He received the award for his pioneering work on measuring and accounting for uncertainty in economic research and its application in the analysis and evaluation of public policies.

Impact on Policy Analysis

Manski's work has encouraged economists to rely on credible and transparent conclusions and to better recognize data limitations, influencing research in areas such as education, health, labor markets, and social programs.

American economist Charles Manski has been honored with the Premio Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento award in the Economics, Finance, and Business Management category. The distinction was awarded in the 18th edition of the competition. The jury's verdict, announced on February 25, emphasizes that Manski is a "key figure" in the field of econometrics. His five-decade body of work has "deeply influenced empirical research in various areas." Specifically mentioned are education, health policies, labor markets, industrial policies, and social programs. His fundamental contribution lies in developing methods that allow economists to make more reliable and transparent inferences, with full awareness of the degree of uncertainty accompanying their models. In practice, this means better preparedness to assess the effects of public policies even when available data is incomplete. The Fronteras del Conocimiento award, established by the Spanish BBVA Foundation in 2008, honors outstanding achievements in science and art, with an emphasis on basic research with high potential for application. Awards are given in several categories, including economics and social sciences. The laureate is a professor of economics at Northwestern University in Chicago, United States. He was born in 1948 in Boston. His pioneering work has become the foundation for modern econometrics, transforming the way the entire discipline thinks about data, evidence, and the limits of our knowledge. The award highlights the importance of his research at a time when "chaos is gaining ground on the international economic chessboard," as noted by El País, pointing to the growing need for robust methods in an unstable world.

Mentioned People

  • Charles Manski — American economist, professor at Northwestern University, laureate of the Premio Fronteras del Conocimiento 2026 in economics.