jaredThe Economics Department and the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy sponsored Jared Rubin's visit to CU Boulder to present a public lecture, "Rulers, Religion, and Riches: Why the West Got Rich and the Middle East Did Not” and an economics department seminar titled, “A Time to Print, a Time to Reform” from November 29th-30th, 2018.

The public lecture provided an overview of his recent book, which deals with the economic development in Europe and the Middle East and why the “great divergence” between two regions occurred. The themes included the role of technology (e.g., the printing press) and religion in conferring legitimacy on the political institutions of these regions.The public lecture provided an overview of his recent book, which deals with the economic development in Europe and the Middle East and why the “great divergence” between two regions occurred. The themes included the role of technology (e.g., the printing press) and religion in conferring legitimacy on the political institutions of these regions. The EconomicsDepartment seminar covered the material related to a recent working paper that Jared is writing. Jared also had a full day of visiting with economists in the department, where he talked with graduate students and faculty.

Results

Jared gave two successful and well-attended lectures. There were 50 attendees at the public lecture and 25 attendees at the seminar. The eventwaswell-attended and conversation andquestions during the eventwere lively and interesting. Jared works with and will continue to work with at least one faculty in the economics department on related research.