Konrad Burchardi receives the Assar Lindbeck Medal 2025

The Assar Lindbeck Medal is awarded every two years to an outstanding economist working in Sweden who has made significant scientific contributions early in their career. The prize honors the legacy of Assar Lindbeck, one of Sweden’s most influential economists, and recognizes research that combines theoretical precision with empirical rigor.

This year’s recipient, Konrad Burchardi — born in Germany in 1980 and appointed professor at IIES in 2024 — is recognized for his innovative use of microdata and creative identification strategies to address core questions in economic growth and development. He has made influential contributions in several areas. His research on social networks and migration demonstrates how personal ties shape regional development, capital flows, and investment across generations. Together with various co-authors, Burchardi has established causal links between historical migration patterns, international direct investment, and innovation, showing that immigration contributes substantially to local growth and patent activity in the United States.

Another central strand of his work focuses on the economies of developing countries. Through theoretical models and randomized field experiments, Burchardi has shown how property rights, tenancy arrangements, and credit constraints influence the decisions, productivity, and investment behavior of households and firms. These findings offer important insights into why markets often function less effectively in low-income countries—and how targeted reforms can enhance welfare and growth. His research has been published in leading international journals.

The award recognizes Burchardi’s ability to integrate theory and empirical methods in a manner that closely reflects the research ideals championed by Assar Lindbeck.

To the press release (in Swedish).

More information about Konrad and his research.