Kevin O'Rourke facts for kids

Kevin Hjortshøj O'Rourke (born 25 March 1963) is an Irish economist and historian. He studies how economies and trade have changed throughout history. Since 2019, he has been a Professor of Economics at New York University Abu Dhabi. Before that, he taught at Trinity College, Dublin, Columbia University, University College, Dublin, and the University of Oxford.

Early Life and Learning

Kevin O'Rourke was born on 25 March 1963 in Bern, Switzerland. His father, Andrew O'Rourke, was an important Irish diplomat. A diplomat helps represent their country in other nations.

From 1980 to 1984, Kevin studied economics and maths. He attended Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with top marks. Later, this degree was upgraded to a Master of Arts (MA).

After Trinity College, he went to Harvard University in the United States. From 1984 to 1989, he continued his studies in economics. He received his Master of Arts (AM) degree in 1986. In 1989, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.

His Big Research Paper

For his PhD, Kevin wrote a major research paper. It was called "Agricultural Change and Rural Depopulation: Ireland 1845–76." He looked at the Great Famine in Ireland. This famine was a terrible time of hunger and death.

Many people thought the famine just sped up existing problems. But Kevin's research showed something different. He found that people leaving rural areas was not just about changing food prices. It was more about big changes in farming.

The famine also led to more Irish people moving abroad. Many went to the United States. This happened because new networks helped them find opportunities there.

A Career in Economics

After finishing his studies, O'Rourke began his teaching career. From 1989 to 1992, he was a teacher at Columbia University in New York. He worked in their Graduate School of Business.

In 1992, he moved back to Ireland. He became a lecturer at University College, Dublin. He taught in the Department of Economics.

Studying Globalization

During this time, O'Rourke became a leading expert on globalization. Globalization is how countries and people around the world become more connected. This includes trade, ideas, and culture.

He worked with his former PhD advisor, Jeffrey Williamson. Together, they wrote a book called 'Globalization and History'. This book won an award in 1999. It helped people understand how the world economy became connected.

In 1999, he was also a visiting teacher at Harvard University.

Looking at Economic Crises

In 2000, O'Rourke became a Professor of Economics at Trinity College, Dublin. He continued his research on international trade. He wrote another important book, 'Power & Plenty'. This book looked at the history of the world economy over 1,000 years.

Later, the world faced the Great Recession. This was a big economic downturn. O'Rourke became interested in how it was similar to the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic crisis in the 1930s.

He wrote popular articles about this topic. These articles were published on a website called VoxEU. They helped many people understand economic crises better.

Leading Academic Groups

From 2009 to 2011, O'Rourke was the President of the European Historical Economics Society. This is a group for experts who study economic history in Europe. He also edited their main publication, the European Review of Economic History.

He has also been an editor for other important academic magazines. These include the Journal of Economic History and Oxford Economic Papers. Editors help decide which research papers get published.

In 2011, O'Rourke moved to the University of Oxford in England. He became the Chichele Professor of Economic History. This is a very important teaching position. He also became a Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford.

In 2014, he also became a research director for a European charity. This charity is called the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR). In 2019, he moved to the United Arab Emirates. He joined New York University Abu Dhabi as a Professor of Economics.

Special Awards

Kevin O'Rourke has received several important awards for his work. In 2009, he was chosen as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA). This is a group of top experts in Ireland.

In 2013, he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA). This is the United Kingdom's national academy for social sciences and humanities. These awards show that his work is highly respected by other experts.

Books and Writings

• O'Rourke, Kevin H. 2019. A Short History of Brexit. Penguin.