News

research

Calvó-Armengol International Prize Inauguration

The Calvó-Armengol International Prize in Economics was formally presented on Friday, May 30, during a 3-day conference in memory of Prof. Antoni Calvó-Armengol. It will be awarded to a top researcher in economics or social sciences younger than 40 years old for their contributions to theory and comprehension of the mechanisms of social interaction.

The prize, which will be awarded every 2 years, endeavors to become one of the leading and most prestigous prizes recognizing young economics and social scientists. It was created in memory of UAB Professor and GSE Affiliated Professor Antoni Calvó-Armengol, a beloved member of the GSE community and highly esteemed researcher who passed away unexpectedly in November 2007.

panel_400
The event featured a panel of speakers involved with the prize. From left: Clara Ponsatí, Director of IAE-CSIC; Andreu Mas-Colell, Chairman of the GSE; Lluis Ferrer, Rector of the UAB; Juli Minoves, Spokesperson for the Government of Andorra; Antoni Serrano, representative of Fundació Crèdit Andorrà; and Salvador Barberà, UAB Professor and GSE Research Network Director
 

Widely regarded as one of the leading theorists of his generation, Toni is well known for his work in social networks and left behind a large body of literature that has had a lasting impact in his field. Some of the highlights include his work on social networks in labor markets, which demonstrates how patterns of employment and wages could be explained when one takes into account the sharing of job information through networks.

His research was varied, and even included a study on a unique Andorran mutual fire insurance policy, called “La Crema”, that allowed for effective risk sharing. Toni also developed a simple but elegant network model of criminal behavior that provides a connection between behavior and the centrality of players in the network, showing how the centrality of a player accounts for their influence on equilibrium play.

"The launching of the prize is most appropriate in light of the brilliant body of research and the intellectual impact that Toni achieved in such a short amount of time,” said GSE Chairperson Andreu Mas-Colell. “Toni's legacy will be remembered in a number of ways, not the least by the association of his name to the recognition of the early careers of other researchers of comparable age and caliber."

toni_04_400
A conference in honor of Professor Toni Calvó-Armengol marked the occasion for the revealing of the International Prize
 

The award in his honor is funded and offered by the BSE in cooperation with the Government of Andorra—Toni’s home country—and the Fundació Crèdit Andorrà. The recipient will be chosen by a committee composed of members of the GSE Scientific Council, headed by Stanford Professor and Council Member Matthew O. Jackson, a friend of Toni and frequent co-author.

The prize will be complemented with an international workshop on social networks, to be organized by the recipient in Andorra, which will draw young researchers from around the world. There will also be an associated “Calvó-Armengol Lecture”, a Barcelona-based lecture that will feature a renowned economist.

The ceremony was held at the Institute of Economic Analysis (IAE-CSIC) building on the Bellaterra Campus on the 2nd day of a conference dedicated to Calvó-Armengol titled ¨Social Networks and Peer Effects: Theory and Applications¨-- a conference he expressed a desire to organize last year.

It was attended by members of the GSE community and included short speeches by Clara Ponsatí, Director of the IAE-CSIC and GSE Affiliated Professor; Salvador Barberà, UAB Professor and GSE Master Director; Andreu Mas-Colell, GSE Chairman; Lluis Ferrer, Rector of the UAB; Juli Minoves, Spokesperson for the Government of Andorra; and Antoni Serrano, representative of Fundació Crèdit Andorrà.

“The intellectual legacy of Toni will live on through his research,” said Clara Ponsatí at the start of the conference. The creation of the prize will be one of many ways that his friends, family, and colleagues will continue to honor his life and work.

barbera_400
UAB Professor and Barcelona Research Network Director Salvador Barberà gives a speech in memory of his friend and colleague

ponsati
IAE-CSIC Director and GSE Affiliated Professor Clara Ponsatí gives an overview of Professor Calvó's research

andreu_400_01
GSE Chairman Andreu Mas-Colell outlines the details of the prize and its associated events

 

Read more about the Calvó-Armengol International Prize in Economics