The Brazilian economist, Flavio Cunha, - former student of the academic master's program of the Brazilian Graduate School of Economics (FGV/EPGE) (1998/2000) - is one of the winners of the 2014 Frisch Medal, awarded every two years by the Econometric Society. Cunha is the first Brazilian to win the prize, awarded since 1978.With a PhD from the University of Chicago and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, he was chosen together with the Nobel James Heckman, also from the University of Chicago, and Susanne Schennach of Brown University, for the article Estimando a tecnologia da formação de habilidades cognitivas e não-cognitivas? (Estimating the technology of cognitive and non-cognitive skills development).In an article to the newspaper Valor Econômico, Flavio Cunha said that the objective of the work that won the medal is to find the mathematical equations that describe the development of cognitive skills, such as mathematics and Portuguese language, and non-cognitive skills such as persistence, motivation and self-control, from one's birth until 15 years of age. According to him, several challenges were faced to reach such equations - such as the lack of a scale to measure the studied skills.Cunha conducted several studies that show the importance of early childhood education with the Nobel Heckman. Together, they formulated the economic model of human capital development, published in 2007.In 2011, James Heckman was at FGV/EPGE for the conference Early Childhood: The International and Brazilian Experience. The event was coordinated by Professor Aloisio Araujo and discussed topics related to early childhood education, supporting its relevance especially in early childhood.About the Econometric SocietyThe Econometric Society is an international organization dedicated to the progress of economic theory in its mathematical and statistical aspects.  Its main activities include the publication of journals Econometrica, Quantitative Economics and Theoretical Economics and the organization of scientific meetings in six regions of the world.Three of the four Brazilian researchers who won the position of Fellow Member of the Econometric Society are from FGV/EPGE:  Aloisio Araujo, Paulo Klinger Monteiro and Marcelo Moreira.The Frisch MedalThe Frisch Medal was created by the Econometric Society to encourage the creation of (empirical or theoretical) applied works published on Econometrica in the last five years.Please click here to learn more about the Econometric Society.