Presented by the university’s Literary and Historical Society, it is considered to be the highest honour available from a student body.

The society was established in 1855 and counts James Joyce among its former auditors. Past recipients of the high-profile award include the Nobel Laureates Paul Krugman, John Hume, and Desmond Tutu.

“Given your status as an accomplished economist, writer, podcaster and documentarian, it is only fitting that you should be counted among them,” the society said in notifying McWilliams of his nomination.

It credits McWilliams, an author of five books, with making the subject of economics generally accessible and with founding the Global Irish Forum, Kilkenomics and the Dalkey Book Festival.

As well as writing for The Irish Times, Mr McWilliams hosts a regular podcast, contributes to The Financial Times and is an adjunct professor at Trinity College Dublin. He has held roles in the Irish Central Bank, UBS and Banque Nationale de Paris.

He will be presented with the James Joyce Award at a ceremony on October 25th.