Paul Romer

In this foundational keynote, Romer draws on the research that earned him the Nobel Prize to explain why ideas — not just physical capital or labor — are the primary engine of economic growth. He demonstrates how deliberate investment in research, education, and knowledge creation produces increasing returns that compound over generations. This presentation gives leaders and policymakers the intellectual framework to understand why some economies prosper while others stagnate, and what strategic choices drive sustained progress.

This century presents a once-in-a-species opportunity as billions of people move into cities. Drawing on his work founding NYU's Marron Institute and the Charter Cities Initiative, Romer makes the case that cities are humanity's most powerful engines of innovation, economic mobility, and shared prosperity. He explores how city-scale development can redefine what is possible for the future, addressing critical issues including migration, infrastructure, technological adoption, and inclusive governance.

Romer weaves together his work as an economist, policy advisor, and former World Bank Chief Economist to address the most important macroeconomic trends and challenges confronting global leaders. He examines the rise of nationalism, shifts in trade policy, the role of institutions in fostering cooperation, and how governments can improve the lives of their citizens despite mounting complexity. The result is a compelling and clear-eyed assessment of the opportunities that lie within current challenges.

Drawing on four decades of studying how technology transforms economies, Romer offers a uniquely grounded perspective on artificial intelligence and its implications for growth, employment, and institutional design. He goes beyond industry hype to examine the structural economic and governance questions that will determine whether AI's benefits are widely shared or narrowly concentrated. This presentation equips leaders with the analytical tools to think clearly about technology policy, innovation incentives, and the future of work.

In this intellectually rigorous keynote, Romer explains the theory that revolutionized modern economics. He demonstrates how market-driven research and development generates new ideas that fuel sustained growth, why well-designed government policies — including public R&D investment and intellectual property protections — are necessary to foster innovation, and how these principles apply to the most pressing economic challenges of the present day.