Global Economy Prize 2019
The Global Economy Prize is awarded to pioneers of a cosmopolitan, economically liberal, and public-spirited society. The 2019 prize winners are Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, Prof. Daron Acemoglu, Ph.D. and Hikmet Ersek.
Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble MdB, President of the German Bundestag
Category: Politics
The jury's reasoning: Wolfgang Schäuble is an outstanding mastermind and architect of both the European integration process and German reunification. He is a dedicated European, an advocate of a rule-based European integration process and the forward thinker of a multi-speed European Union. As a member of the federal government and chairman of the majority parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble was involved in significant European integration initiatives such as the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty. With discipline, determination and great political skill, he drew up the Treaty on German Unity in 1990 in the shortest possible time. Beyond that he succeeded in presenting a balanced federal budget as the first German finance minister since Franz-Josef Strauß in 1969.
Personal Website Wolfgang Schäuble (German only)
Prof. Daron Acemoglu, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Category: Economics
The jury's reasoning: Daron Acemoglu is an economist in a league of his own, not only because of his outstanding theoretical work, but also because he dares to write up his research findings in such a way that they are accessible to a wider audience. His hallmark is an unparalleled combination of originality, thoroughness and high productivity – that before long has made him one of the most frequently quoted economists worldwide in all the various areas he ventures into. In particular, his work in poverty research, which placed this field on an entirely new footing, makes him a worthy recipient of the Global Economy Prize
Hikmet Ersek, President, CEO, Director, Western Union
Category: Business
The jury's reasoning: Hikmet Ersek is an extremely successful entrepreneur, a passionate advocate of globalization and a socially responsible citizen of the world. During his tenure as CEO, he has diversified Western Union's businesses and made it the world's largest provider of global payment services. He is particularly successful in balancing the market need to meet the goals of his company and its shareholders with the social responsibility of a global player. Under Ersek's aegis, Western Union has repeatedly engaged in aid programs in economic crisis regions and, not least, has waived fees for transfers to these regions.
