Career Timeline of Philippe Aghion: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 13, 2025

Discover the career path of Philippe Aghion, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Philippe Aghion is a French economist renowned for his contributions to growth theory and innovation. He is a professor at Collège de France, INSEAD, London School of Economics, and Paris School of Economics. Previously, he held professorships at Harvard University, University College London, Nuffield College, Oxford, and MIT. His work often focuses on the relationship between competition, innovation, and economic growth, influencing policy discussions related to fostering innovation and productivity.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1987: Assistant Professor at MIT

In 1987, Philippe Aghion began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

1987: PhD from Harvard University

In 1987, Philippe Aghion received his PhD in economics from Harvard University.

1990: Deputy Chief Economist at EBRD

In 1990, Philippe Aghion was appointed Deputy Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

1992: Revolutionized Analysis of Endogenous Growth Dynamics

According to Ufuk Akcigit, in 1992, the framework developed by Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt revolutionized the analysis of endogenous growth dynamics by allowing back-and-forth between theory and firm-level data.

1992: Endogenous Growth Theory Model

In 1992, Philippe Aghion, together with Peter Howitt, proposed a foundational endogenous growth theory model using the Schumpeterian framework of creative destruction.

1992: Leapfrogging Innovation

The 1992 Aghion-Howitt paper assumes that innovation takes place through leapfrogging: an innovator necessarily overtakes the leader once it innovates.

1996: Moves to University College London

In 1996, Philippe Aghion moved to the University of Oxford and then University College London.

2002: Professor at Harvard University

In 2002, Philippe Aghion became the Robert C. Waggoner Professor of Economics at Harvard University.

January 2010: Report to Minister of Higher Education

In January 2010, Philippe Aghion led a working group which submitted a two-part report to the Minister of Higher Education Valérie Pécresse. The report focused on an international comparison of university autonomy and the implementation of campuses of academic excellence.

July 2010: Report to Minister of Higher Education

In July 2010, Philippe Aghion led a working group which submitted a two-part report to the Minister of Higher Education Valérie Pécresse. The report focused on an international comparison of university autonomy and the implementation of campuses of academic excellence.

2015: Left Harvard, Joined London School of Economics

In 2015, Philippe Aghion left Harvard University, where he was the Robert C. Waggoner Professor of Economics since 2002, and was named Centennial Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics (LSE).

2015: Professor at London School of Economics

In 2015, Philippe Aghion was named Centennial Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics (LSE).

2016: United Nations Expert Group

In 2016, Philippe Aghion was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to an expert group advising the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth.

2017: President of the European Economic Association

In 2017, Philippe Aghion served as president of the European Economic Association.

2018: Editor of Annual Review of Economics

In 2018, Philippe Aghion became an editor of the Annual Review of Economics.

2019: BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award

In 2019, Philippe Aghion received the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economics for his research on economic growth and innovation.

2021: World Bank–International Monetary Fund Advisory Group

In 2021, Philippe Aghion was appointed to the World Bank–International Monetary Fund High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth.

2025: Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

In 2025, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt were awarded half of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences "for the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction", with the other half going to Joel Mokyr.