Award Ceremony
Global Economy Prize 2021
The Global Economy Prize is awarded to pioneers of a cosmopolitan, economically liberal, and public-spirited society. The 2021 prize winners are Dr. Göran Persson, Prof. Dr. Michael Otto and Prof. Xuemei Bai, Ph.D.
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Gabriel Felbermayr, Ulf Kämpfer, Michael Otto, Xuemei Bai, Göran Persson, Karin Prien, Lord Nicholas Stern, Klaus-Hinrich Vater
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Michael Otto receives his prize medal from Gabriel Felbermayr.
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Global Economy Prize 2021
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Welcome by Ulf Kämpfer, host Elisabeth Radke.
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Gabriel Felbermayr, Michael Otto, Klaus-Hinrich Vater
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Ulf Kämpfer, Karin Prien
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Xuemei Bai, online from Australia, is honored by Gabriel Felbermayr.
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Michael Otto signs the guest book of the city of Kiel.
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Klaus-Hinrich Vater talks to host Elisabeth Radke.
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Acceptance speech by Michael Otto.
Prize Winners

Category: Economics
Prof. Xuemei Bai, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Urban Environment and Human Ecology, Australian National University, Canberra
The jury's reasoning:
“Professor Xuemei Bai is not only a pioneer and leading expert in interdisciplinary urban sustainability research but also a skillful and dedicated policy adviser. Her rare talent to transform state of the art research into practical policy recommendations and her deep understanding of the complexity of the drivers and environmental impacts of urbanization made her to one of the most influential thought leaders in urban sustainability transitions worldwide.”
Website: Australian National University
Speech: Download PDF (129KB)

Category: Politics
Dr. Göran Persson
Former Minister President of Sweden
The jury's reasoning:
“Göran Persson paved Sweden’s path towards one of the most successful nations in environmental policy. Despite short-sighted populist resistance, he ranked sustainable development high on his political agenda and introduced policy measures that went far beyond the requirements of the Kyoto protocol. His strong personal commitment to environmental protection and his willingness and courage to turn this commitment into concrete legislation made him a veritable beacon in environmental and climate policy worldwide.
Website: Swedbank - Board of Directors
Speech: Download PDF (144 KB)

Category: Business
Prof. Dr. Michael Otto
Chairman of the Otto Group Supervisory Board
The jury's reasoning:
"Michael Otto is not only an extraordinarily successful entrepreneur who, by acting with foresight, succeeded in leading the traditional Otto mail-order-business into the digital age and successfully positioned it against market giants such as Amazon, but for more than 25 years he has also set groundbreaking standards as a fervent advocate and constant promoter of nature and environmental protection. As early as 1993, he founded the Michael Otto Foundation for Environmental Protection which promotes forward-looking projects in environmental and nature conservation and promotes social dialogue on sustainable development. In 2005 he initiated the Aid by Trade Foundation with the aim of improving the economic and ecological living conditions of small cotton farmers and their families in sub-Saharan Africa. As co-founder of the Foundation 2° - German Businesses for Climate Protection, he is also a role model and pioneer of entrepreneurial environmental protection".
Website: michael-otto.info