David Autor Appointed as Head of MIT’s Department of Economics
David Autor, the esteemed Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in the MIT Department of Economics, has been appointed as the head of the department, effective July 1. This marks a new chapter in the department’s storied history, known for its groundbreaking contributions to economic thought and policy.
Building on Excellence
“David is a first-class labor economist,” says Agustín Rayo, the Kenan Sahin Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at MIT. “He is also a person of great wisdom and insight. I look forward to welcoming him to the school’s leadership team.”
Autor has been an integral part of MIT since 1999, dedicating his career to examining the labor market impacts of technological change and globalization. His research explores job polarization, skill requirements, income levels, inequality, and election outcomes. As the faculty co-director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work, Autor’s contributions have been both profound and far-reaching.
A Vision for the Future
Expressing his gratitude, Autor remarks, “I have been at MIT since 1999 and owe my career to the institute, the department, and the colleagues who are as friendly as they are competent. Entering this role is a chance to contribute to a place that has shaped me at every stage.”
Succeeding Jon Gruber, the Ford Professor of Economics, who served as department head since July 2023, Autor aspires to maintain the department’s standard of excellence while navigating contemporary challenges such as budget cuts and a changing political landscape.
“Equally important, I want to lead the department to the possibilities that advancing AI opens up in the way we teach and the research we do,” adds Autor, highlighting his forward-thinking approach.
Recognized Expertise
Autor is also the co-director of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Work Study Program. His educational background includes a BA in psychology from Tufts University in 1989 and a doctorate in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 1999.
Throughout his career, Autor has received numerous accolades for his scholarship and teaching. These include the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, a fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Sherwin Rosen Prize for outstanding contributions to labor economics, the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2019, and the Society for Progress Medal in 2021. His teaching excellence has been recognized with the MIT MacVicar Faculty Fellowship, the James A. and Ruth Levitan Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Undergraduate Economic Association Teaching Award, and the Faculty Recognition Award from the MIT Technology and Policy Program.
In 2020, Autor was honored with the Heinz 25th Special Recognition Award from the Heinz Family Foundation for his transformative work on understanding globalization and technological change’s effects on jobs and earning prospects for American workers. In 2023, he was named a NOMIS Distinguished Scientist, one of only two researchers from any scientific field to receive this recognition. In 2024, Autor was selected as one of five AI2050 Senior Fellows by the Schmidt Sciences Foundation.
For more information about David Autor’s appointment, please visit the original announcement here.
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