Amartya Sen

Indian economist and Nobel laureate

Amartya Sen

Overview

Known for

Indian economist and Nobel laureate (born 1933)

Who is Amartya Sen?

Amartya Kumar Sen (Bengali: [ˈɔmortːo ˈʃen]; born 3 November 1933) is an Indian economist and philosopher. Sen is currently the Thomas W. Lamont University Professor, and professor of economics and philosophy, at Harvard University. He previously served as master of Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. The German Publishers and Booksellers Association awarded him the 2020 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for his pioneering scholarship addressing issues of global justice and combating social inequality in education and healthcare. Lamont University Professor, and professor of economics and philosophy, at Harvard University. Sen has taught and worked in England and the United States since 1972.

'Pratichi', Sen's house in Shantiniketan
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Historical significance

In 1998, he received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics. He has also made major contributions to social choice theory, economic and social justice, economic theories of famines, decision theory, development economics, public health, and the measures of well-being of countries. In 1999, he received India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to welfare economics.

Sen giving the inaugural parliamentary lecture at Parliament House in New Delhi
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MLA

“Amartya Sen.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/amartya-sen/. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

APA

Amartya Sen. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/amartya-sen/

Chicago

“Amartya Sen.” thisDay. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/amartya-sen/.