Amartya Sen 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences

In the course of its online meeting, the Jury for the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences, made up of Juan Barja de Quiroga Losada, María Paz Battaner Arias, Adela Cortina Orts, Teresa Freixes Sanjuán, Mauro Guillén Rodríguez, Silvia Iranzo Gutiérrez, Emilio Lamo de Espinosa Michels de Champourcin, Óscar Loureda Lamas, Manuel Menéndez Menéndez, Enrique Moradiellos García, Montserrat Moreno Marimón, Emilio Ontiveros Baeza, Jaime Pérez Renovales, Rafael Puyol Antolín, Isaac Querub Caro, Myriam Seco Álvarez, Fernando Vallespín Oña, chaired by Carmen Iglesias Cano, Countess of Gisbert, and with Marta Elvira Rojo acting as secretary, has decided to grant the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences to the Indian economist Amartya Sen.

From a cosmopolitan and interdisciplinary perspective, Sen’s extensive research includes contributions to theories of public choice and development, and welfare economics, as well as others aimed at discovering the roots of poverty and famine. His capability approach has been extended to the whole of the social sciences. His entire intellectual career has contributed in a profound and effective way to promoting justice, freedom and democracy.

His continued excellent work has had a decisive influence on the development plans and policies of the world’s leading institutions. Furthermore, he has founded a universal school committed to defending human rights, which has made Professor Sen a key figure in current thinking and a teacher of teachers.

26th May 2021