TMTPOST – AsianFin and TMTPost announced Tuesday that Simon Johnson, one of the 2024 Nobel Prize laureates in Economic Sciences, will deliver a keynote speech and participate in a dialogue at the T-EDGE Conference on December 6-7 in Beijing. This marks Johnson's first public address in China since receiving the Nobel Prize. 

Johnson will be joined by high-profile attendees, including Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert and other global tech and business leaders.

At the 2024 T-EDGE Conference, Johnson will explore how artificial intelligence could transform national economies and what institutions are needed to maximize its benefits. Key questions to be addressed include: Can AI foster economic prosperity across all social strata? Are we prepared to establish inclusive institutions that prevent technological control by elites?

In a special dialogue with TMTPost founder Jany Zhao Hejuan, Johnson will share his perspectives on these pressing issues, offering actionable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators.

The event will bring together pioneers from China, the United States, Canada, the Middle Eastern countries, and India to foster international exchange in tech innovation. Enhanced interactivity and community engagement will define this year’s format, solidifying the T-EDGE Conference as a global platform for forward-thinking collaboration.

Make your plans to be there now! For the first time, the T-EDGE Conference will no longer offer free entry, aiming to elevate the conference experience and foster deeper interactions between attendees and speakers. Early-bird tickets are selling fast—scan the QR code or click “Read More” below to secure your spot. Ticket holders will also gain year-round access to over ten international events hosted by T-EDGE’s global innovation community.

Johnson, a tenured professor at MIT Sloan School of Management and former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is globally recognized for his research emphasizing the critical role of institutions in driving long-term economic growth and national prosperity. His work argues that political inclusivity, rather than geography, culture, or climate, is the decisive factor for economic success or failure. 

Johnson's Nobel-winning research highlights how extractive political systems in regions like Africa and Latin America hinder economic growth, exacerbate inequality, and fuel corruption. His observations have provided valuable insights for policymakers worldwide, shaped by his experiences at the IMF during global financial crises. 

In his widely acclaimed book, Power and Progress, Johnson demonstrates with clarity, authority and insight that technological advancements do not inherently guarantee shared prosperity. Instead, equitable outcomes depend on inclusive institution that distribute technological benefits widely rather than concentrating wealth and power among elites. He advocates for inclusive societal participation to ensure technology promotes fairness and progress for all.