Biography:
Dr. David Autor, one of the world's leading economists, is a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Autor is best known for his research on labor economics, particularly focusing on the effects of automation, globalization, and technological change on the labor market. His work has reshaped the understanding of labor market polarization, income inequality, and the dynamics of job displacement in the contemporary economy.
Autor's research has been published in leading academic journals, including the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Labor Economics, and Review of Economics and Statistics, with his groundbreaking analysis on the rise of "middle-skill" job polarization garnering widespread acclaim. Throughout his career, Autor has received numerous awards, including being named a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), co-director of the NBER Labor Studies Program, and has been a key advisor to policymakers at all levels of government on issues related to labor markets and economic inequality.
Dr. Autor received his B.A. in Political Economy from Wesleyan University in 1989 and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1994.
Student Lecture: 6 March 2025
Trade, Labor and Politics: Lessons from the China Trade Shock
Faculty Lecture: 7 March 2025
In Heels and Backwards: The Economic Costs of Women Doing More for Less