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Remembering Giovanni Andrea Cornia

It was with great sadness that we received the news of Giovanni Andrea Cornia’s passing on 10 July 2024. Giovanni Andrea Cornia was Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Florence, where he taught for more than 15 years. He was formerly the Director of UNU-WIDER, Director of the Economic and Social Policy Research Programme at UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, and Chief Economist at UNICEF Headquarters.

I had the privilege of knowing Andrea not just as a mentor and colleague, but as a friend. I met Andrea in 2006, during my master’s in economics at the University of Florence. Andrea agreed to supervise my master’s thesis first and then my PhD thesis after that. As our collaboration continued over the years, I gained immense respect and admiration for his knowledge, work ethic, and integrity; and for Andrea as human being.

Andrea was a brilliant scholar. He published more than 80 journal articles and working papers on development economics, as well as 20 books, including the highly influential book Adjustment with a Human Face, co-authored with Richard Jolly and Frances Stewart. At the heart of his work is a passion for development economics research, the fight against inequalities, and a strong commitment to leaving no one behind.

Right after his graduation, he began work as Research Economist at FIAT Economic Research Centre. There, he often said that he learned economics but dreamed of helping others and learning more about the world. So, he quit his job for a UN position in Geneva. This marked the beginning of a career which took him from international organizations to academia.

Andrea was quite a unique figure, combining academic skills with policy expertise. His broad research interests and work experience allowed him to conduct both academic and policy-oriented research while staying grounded. He had a unique ability to communicate and gain respect from policymakers, practitioners, and academics alike. I will never forget my first conference abroad, where a PhD student from Uzbekistan explained to me how influential Andrea was in her country and how much trust he had earned from everyone there.

Andrea approached his work with indescribable passion and commitment. But there is something few people may know about Andrea: one of his greatest satisfactions has been inspiring, training, and mentoring dozens of development economists. Together with Prof. Franco Volpi, he co-founded the PhD Program in Politics and Economics of the Developing Countries at the University of Florence.

His classes never bored; they were enriched with anecdotes and captivating stories drawn from his extraordinary life and his extensive experience. Having visited more than 100 countries around the world, something he was always proud to highlight, he was able to transfer to his students a global perspective which made his teachings both fascinating and deeply insightful.

Andrea was very charismatic and generous to us. Because of his background, he always advocated that economists should focus on big, impactful questions rather than obsessing over tiny exercises with limited practical relevance. Andrea always explained that we should not spend our life sitting in front of our desks. Instead, we should explore the field, engage with people, and immerse ourselves in the local environment to truly understand the people and institutions.

Even so, I’m not sure he was fully aware of the true extent of his achievements. For us, he created something truly special. Most of his students are now in academia or working for international organizations. They publish in top journals and some of them are highly listed in academic rankings. Andrea managed to build up development economics in Italy and in Florence and to create a worldwide network of scholars and professionals who have been passing down his teachings, his vision, and his values for years.

Although Andrea is no longer with us, his spirit and his lessons on contributing to a world with a ‘human face’ will continue to guide our efforts toward a more just world where everyone has equal opportunities and rights. Rest in peace, Andrea. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.