Sir James Mirrlees, economist (1936-2018)

We learned with great sadness of the death of economist Sir James Mirrlees, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1996 for his work on incentives in a situation of information asymmetry, especially as applied to the theory of optimal taxation.

Professor at the University of Cambridge (UK) and at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, he was one of the most brilliant and influential economists of his generation. On top of his multiple professional engagements, he accepted an invitation to participate in the creation of PSE as a member of the Scientific Council. Every year since then, he supported PSE’s projects with his characteristic rigour and generosity, and stimulated our strategic development, especially in PhD-level training.

We extend our deepest sympathies to all those close to him, and particularly to his wife and children

Copyright portrait - University of Cambridge