Robert Fogel (Economist)

Robert Fogel was an influential American economist known for his work in economic history and for developing the concept of cliometrics, which uses statistical and mathematical methods to analyze historical data. He argued that economic factors significantly shaped historical events, particularly in relation to the American Civil War and slavery. Fogel's research demonstrated how economic incentives can impact societal trends. In 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to the understanding of economic development and the role of institutions in shaping economic outcomes. His work reshaped how historians and economists analyze the past.