Alice Amsden Best Book Award

Alice Amsden was a pioneering scholar whose work reshaped our understanding of industrialization, economic development, and the role of the state in emerging economies. A fearless thinker and influential voice in socio-economics, she challenged conventional wisdom and illuminated new pathways for growth and equity.

The Alice Amsden Best Book Award continues her legacy by recognizing groundbreaking scholarly books that push the boundaries of socio-economic research. Awarded annually, it celebrates works that question dominant paradigms and offer fresh perspectives on the complexities of global economic development.

The SASE Alice Amsden Best Book Award committee considers books submitted by a SASE member with a first edition publication date from one to two years prior to the next annual conference date, and which are not edited volumes, with the aim of selecting an outstanding scholarly book that breaks new ground in the study of economic behavior and/or its policy implications with regard to societal, institutional, historical, philosophical, psychological, and ethical factors. The prize comes with an award of $2,000.

Only current SASE members are invited to nominate a book for the prize, and authors are welcome to nominate their own work. Nomination periods open at the beginning of winter and close at the end of winter each year. Nominations must be accompanied by a brief nomination letter that states how the book contributes to SASE’s intellectual mission. All books/submissions must be in English. Please note that achieving diversity and inclusion is a priority for SASE.

Applications for the 2026 SASE Alice Amsden Best Book Award are now closed. 

Blog edited by Leela Lebowski