Breaking Rules, Breaking Records: How José Luis Espert’s 2020 Thesis Won the ‘Dr. Raúl Prebisch’ Prize in 2022
In an unexpected turn of events, José Luis Espert, economic libertarian and president of the Argentine Congress’ Budget and Hacienda Commission, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Dr. Raúl Prebisch’ Prize for his 2020 thesis. The recognition has sparked debate after it was revealed that the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina (BCRA) expanded the eligible time frame for the award just one month before the submission deadline.
Initially, the ‘Dr. Raúl Prebisch’ Prize was open to thesis doctorates approved between 2021 and 2024. However, in an unprecedented move on August 29, 2022, the BCRA extended the timeline to include works defended from 2018. This amendment benefited Espert’s thesis, which was presented in 2020, enabling it to participate in the competition.
The BCRA attributed the change to a lack of registered participants. However, the decision came only a month before the submission deadline and was communicated to select universities via email, with the website update following on September 3. Despite the controversy, 40 entries were received across the three categories: university students, young professionals, and doctoral theses in economics.
In the doctoral category, Espert’s thesis was one of six submissions. It eventually emerged as one of only two finalists, a testament to its quality, despite the uproar surrounding its eligibility. The news of Espert’s win was met with joy by economist and fellow libertarian Javier Milei, who congratulated him on the social media platform X.
