Global Economy Prize 2015
The Kiel Institute is proud to announce the winners of its 2015 Global Economy Prize:
- Michail Sergejewitsch Gorbatschow
- Sir Christopher A. Pissarides
- Jeffrey Robert Immelt
- Kristine and Douglas Tompkins.
In their distinctive ways, each of this year’s prize winners reflects the objectives of the Kiel Institute Global Economy Prize. The Prize is meant to promote a creative voice heard in the frequently sterile public debate on the future of the global economy. It is neither the voice of ruthless, unconstrained market forces, nor the voice of indiscriminate government intervention. Instead, in honoring the outstanding accomplishments of our prize winners, the Kiel Institute seeks to highlight how incentive-based market activity can promote both economic efficiency and social equity.
Michail Sergejewitsch Gorbatschow
Former Soviet politician and USSR head of state, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Michail Sergejewitsch Gorbatschow, born on March 2, 1931 in Priwolnoje (Northern Caucasus, Russia) is a former USSR politician. From 1990 - 1991 he was Russia’s State President. Whilst introducing his politics of transparency (glasnost) and transformation (perestroika) he ended the Cold War and prepared the ground for German unification. His reforms to democratize the USSR finally led to its breakdown and to the foundation of numerous independent successor states. Outside Russia Gorbachev is still highly appreciated and respected for his political merits. In 1990 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. More on Michail Gorbatschow's life and achievements.
Sir Christopher A. Pissarides
Cypriot British scientist
Sir Christopher Antoniou Pissarides, born 20 February 1948 in Cyprus, is a Cypriot British economist. He is professor of economics and politics at the London School of Economics (LSE). He is particularly interested in researching unemployment. In 2010 has been co-recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics for his research work on the economic problems of job hunting – i.e. the analysis of frictional markets. His fellow laureates for the prize have been Peter Diamond and Dale Mortensen. More on Sir Christopher Pissarides' life and achievements.
Jeffrey Robert Immelt
General Electric CEO and economic adviser to US president Barack Obama
Jeffrey Robert Immelt, born on 19 February 1955 in Cincinatti, Ohio (USA), is an American business executive and for 14 years now he serves on the board of General Electric (GE). He reoriented GE towards industrial facilities, its core business. This proved to be critical, as ventures into financial markets had driven the company near bankruptcy once the financial market crises erupted. He managed to close a spectacular deal with the French government on overtaking the energy branch of French-based energy-and-transport giant Alstom, and snapped this gem up from right under Siemen’s nose, GEs biggest rival at that time. Recently, Immelt strongly promoted both in-house development of software for industrial facilities and a stronger internationalization by choosing production sites close to sales markets and by hiring technical and executive staff locally. More on Jeffrey Immelt's life and achievements.
Kristine and Douglas Tompkins
Entrepreneurs in the textile industry (The North Face, Esprit, Patagonia)
Kristine (born 1950) and Douglas Tompkins (born 1943) are a successful entrepreneurial couple, deeply devoted to protect the environment. They made a fortune with their textile companies – The North Face, Esprit and Patagonia – which they employed to build up huge national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Chile and Argentina. Jointly, Kris and Doug Tompkins own more protected land areas than any other private person on this globe. Read more...
