

Bruno Amable is a French economist and Professor of Political Economy at the University of Geneva. His research interests include political economy, comparative analysis of capitalism, and institutional economics. Amable's work centers on understanding the different forms of capitalism, institutions, and their influence on innovation and industry. He has been critical of efforts to force countries to converge towards a single economic model, such as neoliberalism, due to the diversity of financial systems, social protection, industrial relations, labor markets, and education systems across developed countries.
- Research Focus: Amable's research focuses on the comparative analysis of capitalism, with a particular interest in understanding the role of institutions in shaping economic development and innovation1.
- Critique of Neoliberalism: He has been a vocal critic of the neoliberal model of capitalism, arguing that it is inadequate and undesirable due to its inability to account for the diversity of economic systems and social norms across countries.
- Institutional Complementarity: Amable emphasizes the importance of institutional complementarity and hierarchy in the coexistence of diverse social systems of innovation and production23.
- Influence on Economic Development: His research suggests that countries require "social capabilities" to leverage their technological backwardness into catch-up growth. He finds that productivity growth increases with inter-industry specialization and specialization in electronics45.
- Ranking and Recognition: Amable is among the top 2% of economists registered on IDEAS/RePEc in terms of number of published works, indicating a significant impact in the field6.
In conclusion, Bruno Amable's work contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of capitalism and its various forms, highlighting the importance of institutions and social capabilities in shaping economic development and innovation.
