The University of Pretoria (UP)’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) has conferred an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) in Economics on Professor Peter Dixon during its Autumn 2021 graduation session.

Professor Dixon is an internationally renowned economist, recognised for his work in computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling. He created two well-known models – ORANI and MONASH – which have been prominent in academic and contract research worldwide over the past 40 years. 

UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe said he is elated that the University is able to bestow this honour on Professor Dixon.

“Professor Dixon is a trailblazer and leaders in the field of Economics,” Prof Kupe said. “His work is internationally recognised, with him having developed two important models that have been prominent in academic and contract research worldwide. He espouses the values we hold dear as institution, chief among these using research and academic outputs for the betterment and development of our society. Congratulations to Prof Dixon.”

In recent years, Prof Dixon led the development of the United States’ USAGE model, which is used by the US International Trade Commission and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation and Homeland Security. Prof Dixon's publication list contains about 240 articles and nine books, including three North Holland monographs. He edited, along with Dale Jorgenson, Elsevier’s Handbook of Computable General Equilibrium Modelling (2013). He has an I10-index of 117 and has had 7 428 citations of his work.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Professor Elsabé Loots, said Prof Dixon’s contribution to Economics globally has made him worthy of this honour.

“UP’s collaboration with Prof Dixon over the past two decades resulted in a number of published journal articles, industry relevant contract research outputs and the delivery of many computable general equilibrium modelling training courses,” Prof Loots said. “His outstanding intellectual contributions of high academic-scientific merit have contributed significantly to the field of Economics. Prof Dixon’s CV and list of publications and awards received attest of an outstanding level of excellence, and we are proud to continue our working relationship with him.”

Professor Dixon received his degree during a virtual ceremony held on 26 April 2021.