W. Arthur Lewis: A Pioneer in Economics
04/17/2026 |
W. Arthur Lewis was a groundbreaking economist born on January 23, 1915, in Saint Lucia, British West Indies. He made history as the first person of African descent to win the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979.
Throughout his distinguished career, Lewis taught at prestigious institutions including Princeton University and the University of the West Indies. Beyond academia, he played a vital role in shaping economic policies across several nations, serving as an adviser to countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados.
W. Arthur Lewis passed away on June 15, 1991, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence economic thought and policy worldwide.