MIT economist Stephen Morris elected to the British Academy
Morris is among 86 new Fellows elected this year

MIT economist Stephen Morris. Photo by Bryce Vickmark.

MIT economist Stephen Morris has been elected to the British Academy in recognition of his contribution to the humanities and social sciences.

Morris is one of 86 Fellows elected this year. Of those, 52 were elected from 29 universities across the UK. There are a further 30 Corresponding Fellows from universities in the United States, South Africa, Germany, Australia and India, as well as four Honorary Fellows.

“As a British citizen by birth and upbringing, I heard about the history and importance of the British Academy. This makes it a special honor for me to be remembered and recognized as a corresponding Fellow,” says Morris, the Peter A. Diamond Professor of Economics.

Founded in 1902, the British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. It is a Fellowship of over 1,600 of the leading minds in these subjects from across the globe. The Academy is also a funding body for research, nationally and internationally, and a forum for debate and engagement.  

According to the Academy, the latest cohort of Fellows highlights the depth and breadth of the SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy) disciplines and reflects the importance of interdisciplinary research. 

Welcoming this year’s Fellows, the President of the British Academy, Professor Julia Black, said: 

"It is with great pleasure that we welcome yet another outstanding cohort to the Academy’s Fellowship. The scope of research and expertise on display across our newly elected UK, Corresponding and Honorary Fellows shows the breadth and depth of knowledge and insight held by the British Academy and which we work hard to harness to help shape the world.  

"With the vast expertise and wide-ranging insights brought by our new Fellows, the Academy continues to showcase the importance of the SHAPE disciplines in opening fresh seams of knowledge and understanding, while simultaneously advancing the well-being and prosperity of societies worldwide. I wholeheartedly congratulate each of our new Fellows on this achievement and look forward to working together." 

About Stephen Morris

Stephen Morris is an economic theorist recognized for his work on the foundations and applications of game theory. He is known particularly for his work on higher-order beliefs in economics and game theory. He was born in Weybridge, England, and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Mathematics and Economics in 1985. He received a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University in 1991, after working as an economist for two years for the Government of Uganda. He taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University and Princeton University before joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2019, where he is currently the Peter A. Diamond Professor of Economics. He served as President of the Econometric Society in 2019 and is currently serving as President of the Society for Advancement of Economic Theory.