Robert Solow, a founding and current member of the MDRC Board of Directors, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama at a White House ceremony on November 24.

An Institute Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Solow is one of the most widely respected economists of the past sixty years. His research in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s transformed the field, laying the groundwork for much of modern economics. He continues to influence policymakers, demonstrating how smart investments, especially in new technology, can build broad-based prosperity, and he continues to actively participate in contemporary debates about inequality and economic growth. He is a Nobel laureate, winning the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1987.

“On behalf of the MDRC Board and staff, I congratulate Bob on this richly deserved honor,” said MDRC President Gordon Berlin. “Bob’s contributions to the field of economics — and to this nation — can hardly be overstated. We feel particularly fortunate to have benefited from Bob’s leadership and wise counsel since day one of MDRC’s existence.”