Beloit College is thrilled to announce that Joel Mokyr, the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Economics and History at Northwestern University, has been awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. This prestigious honor celebrates his groundbreaking contributions to the field of economics, particularly in the areas of economic history and the economics of technological change and innovation. In their official citation, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences honored Joel Mokyr “for having identified the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress.”

Dr. Mokyr’s connection to Beloit College runs deep, with three visits to campus. He was the 2023-24 Upton Scholar, and also was an honored guest in 2011-12 when he delivered the remarks of Upton Scholar Elinor Ostrom, who was unable to attend for health reasons. He also was part of the 2016-17 Upton Forum, when he delivered remarks on the ideas and influence of Deirdre McCloskey.

The Upton Forum, named after economist and sixth Beloit College President Miller Upton, is the college’s premier residency program in economics. It brings renowned economists to campus for a week-long visit, providing students with a unique opportunity to learn from and interact with leading experts in the field.

Upton Scholars spend a week in residence at the college, meeting with students, visiting classes, and delivering a keynote lecture. During his 2023-24 residency, Dr. Mokyr discussed his theories in a seminar course built around his ideas and research, helping students produce their own research responding to his body of work, the best of which is published in an Annual Proceedings. The 2023-24 Upton Forum also included an evening of lectures on the industrial history of Beloit, tying our local community to the work of Dr. Mokyr, delivered by Rob Gerbitz of Hendricks Commercial Properties, emeritus Professor of History Beatrice McKenzie, and Archivist Emeritus Fred Burwell.

The Upton Forum brings renowned scholars to Beloit Colleg each year, to engage with students around the wealth and wellbeing of nations. Here Professor Mokyr meets with students in a senior seminar class.
Credit: Benjamin J. Suter

Beloit College is proud to have hosted an impressive list of Upton Scholars over the years, including three other Nobel Laureates: Douglass North, Elinor Ostrom, and James Heckman. Dr. Mokyr becomes the fourth Upton Scholar to win the Nobel Prize, out of 16 Upton Scholars that Beloit College has hosted since the Upton Forum’s inception in 2008.

The Nobel Committee’s announcement of Joel Mokyr’s prize is a testament to the significance of his research, and resonates with the mission of the Upton Forum, which is rooted in Miller Upton’s passion for advancing the wealth and well-being of nations. As an economist who dedicated his career to promoting the ideals of a liberal society, Miller Upton understood that the pursuit of prosperity and peace is inextricably linked to the free exchange of ideas and the creation of an environment conducive to innovation and progress. Prof. Mokyr’s research offers valuable insights into how nations can foster an environment that promotes economic growth and improves the well-being of their citizens. This synergy between Prof. Mokyr’s research and the Upton Forum’s mission underscores the importance of the work being done at Beloit College.

The college’s commitment to providing students with access to exceptional scholars and thinkers is evident in its Upton Forum program. By bringing these experts to campus, Beloit College offers students a chance to engage with the best minds in economics and gain a deeper understanding of the complex issues shaping our world.

Congratulations to Dr. Joel Mokyr on his well-deserved Nobel Prize in Economics. His achievement is a reflection of the high caliber of scholars who have visited Beloit College through the Upton Forum.

Beloit College welcomes the community to meet the 2025 Upton Scholar, Mark Granovetter, this fall. Professor Granovetter will deliver the June and Edgar Martin Memorial Lecture at 7 p.m. on Oct. 24 in Eaton Chapel. Professor Granovetter, a renowned economic sociologist, is the author of the widely cited 1973 paper “The Strength of Weak Ties,” which showed how weak rather than strong ties bridge cliques that might otherwise be disconnected, thus conveying information to individuals about jobs, rumors and discoveries about which they might otherwise be unaware.