Xavier Sala-I-Martin

Xavier Sala-i-Martin is a Hispanic-American economist, professor, writer, and consultant, recognized worldwide for his academic contributions to the study of economic growth, sustainable development, and global competitiveness. He holds the Jerome H. Grossman Chair of Economics at Columbia University in New York and is one of the most influential intellectual voices in the debate on globalization and innovation.

A graduate in Economics from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​he obtained his doctorate from Harvard University. During his academic career, he has taught at prestigious institutions such as Yale University and has been a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), publishing numerous scientific articles in the world's most rigorous economics journals on income convergence and determinants of national wealth.

He is widely known as the creator and driving force behind the Global Competitiveness Index, developed for the World Economic Forum in Davos, a standard tool used by governments and multinational corporations to assess the structural performance and growth conditions of the world's economies. He has also collaborated with international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the design of economic reforms.

As a popularizer, bestselling author, and contributor to international media, Sala-i-Martin is known for his ability to explain complex economic phenomena in an engaging, rigorous style, infused with subtle irony. His academic and professional legacy lies in having reshaped how countries measure their competitiveness, demonstrating that innovation, quality education, and strong institutions are the true drivers of prosperity.