Economist Charles Manski Awarded Fronteras del Conocimiento Prize

American economist Charles Manski has been announced as the laureate of the 18th edition of the Premio Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento in the Economics, Finance and Business Management category. The verdict was announced on February 25, 2026. The award, worth 400,000 euros, is one of the most important scientific distinctions in the Spanish-speaking world and honors work of fundamental importance for the development of the discipline. The Fronteras del Conocimiento Prize was established in 2008 by the Spanish BBVA Foundation, a philanthropic institution belonging to the BBVA banking group. Its goal is to support basic research with potential for practical applications. In previous years, the economics category prize has been awarded to, among others, behavioral economist Richard Thaler and researchers of social inequalities. The jury, composed of leading Spanish and international economists, recognized Manski as a "key figure" in contemporary econometrics. It was emphasized that his five-decade body of work "has deeply influenced empirical research in various areas," such as education, health policy, the labor market, and social programs. Manski's key contribution is the creation of a coherent methodology that allows economists to formulate conclusions with a full and transparent declaration of the degree of uncertainty that accompanies them. His approach, known as "partial identification analysis" or "Manski's theory," has changed the paradigm in the social sciences. In practice, these methods enable researchers to determine the upper and lower bounds of the possible estimable effect of a given intervention—for example, a scholarship program or tax reform—instead of providing a single, often deceptively precise number. „„Spośród wszystkich nominowanych prac, te autorstwa Charlesa Manskiego wyróżniają się tym, że są powszechnie stosowane, tworząc standardy metodologiczne w wielu dziedzinach”” — Cristina Barceló. This approach is particularly valuable in times when political decision-makers need solid foundations for their decisions, and the available data is often limited or ambiguous. His work has become a foundation for assessing the effects of public policies even when the available data is incomplete. The laureate is a retired professor of economics at Northwestern University in Chicago. The award will be presented to him during a gala ceremony in Madrid, the date of which will be announced later. An additional aspect of the distinction is the emphasis on the importance of economics as an exact science, capable of dealing with uncertainty. Unlike some economic forecasts that provide specific numbers, Manski's framework teaches intellectual humility and scientific honesty. 400 tys. euro — Value of the Fronteras del Conocimiento Prize. His concepts are now applied not only in economics but also in epidemiology, sociology, and political science.