David Autor, the Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in the MIT Department of Economics, has been named head of the Department of Economics, effective July 1.
“David is a world-class labor economist,” says Agustín Rayo, the Kenan Sahin Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. “He is also an individual of wisdom and insight. I look forward to welcoming him to the school’s leadership team.”
Autor’s scholarship explores the labor-market impacts of technological change and globalization on job polarization, skill demands, earnings levels and inequality, and electoral outcomes. He serves as faculty co-director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work.
“I’ve been at MIT since 1999, and I owe my career to the Institute, the department, and colleagues who are as kind as they are accomplished,” Autor says. “Stepping into this role is a chance to contribute to a place that has shaped me at every stage.”
Autor succeeds Jon Gruber, the Ford Professor of Economics, who has served as department head since July 2023.
Autor says he “aims to build on the stellar standard set by its faculty and students while navigating budget tightening and a shifting political landscape.”
“Just as important, I want to lead the department toward the opportunities that advancing AI is opening in how we teach and what we research,” he adds.
Autor serves as co-director of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Labor Studies Program . He earned a BA in psychology from Tufts University in 1989 and a PhD in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 1999.
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