(Image source from: Amartya Sen awarded Charleston-EFG John Maynard Keynes Prize})

Eminent economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has been named as the first winner of a newly established award in the UK, in recognition of his work on economics. Sen, aged 81, is declared as the winner of the inaugural Charleston-EFG John Maynard Keynes Prize, established in memory of the famous British economist, during a reception at the Royal Academy.

“I feel deeply honoured by the news of this award. The world in which we live today has been made much more secure by the economic wisdom that Keynes brought to us during the dark days of the Great Depression,” Sen said.

“When that wisdom is partly or wholly ignored in the making of economic policy, large number of people are made to suffer unnecessarily. We have seen several depressing examples of that in the recent years. Keynes was a great path finder, and it would have distressed – if not surprised – him to see how well-identified paths can be comprehensively neglected by policy making that draws more on ideology than on well- reflected reasoning,” the Harvard University professor said.

“The aim of this prize is to honour individuals from around the world who continue to embody Keynes’ extraordinary attributes. The remarkable Amartya Sen couldn’t be a more worthy winner in this inaugural year. Philosopher, economist, teacher, moralist, his tireless commitment to the cause of ending inequality and deprivation by bringing a penetrating intelligence to bear on their causes is truly exceptional. On behalf of my fellow judges I would like to congratulate Professor Sen on his outstanding achievements,” Dame Liz Forgan, chair of the advisory panel, said

“In the spirit of John Maynard Keynes’ work, life and legacy, this new global prize recognises Sen’s outstanding contribution to society,” award committee statement said.

By Premji