Steven Levitt's Email & Phone Number

📖 Summary

Steven Levitt is an American economist known for his innovative and unconventional approach to the study of economic behavior. Born on May 29, 1967, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Levitt has made a significant impact on the field of economics through his research and writing. He is best known for his work in the field of behavioral economics, which combines insights from psychology and economics to better understand human decision-making. Levitt is also the co-author of the best-selling book "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything," which has gained popularity for its unique and thought-provoking insights into economic behavior.

Levitt earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has held academic positions at a number of prestigious institutions, including the University of Chicago, where he is currently the William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor of Economics. In addition to his work as an academic, Levitt has also served as a consultant to numerous companies and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the World Bank.

One of Levitt's most well-known contributions to the field of economics is his research on the economics of crime. His work in this area has challenged conventional wisdom and led to a greater understanding of the factors that influence criminal behavior. In one of his most famous studies, Levitt analyzed the relationship between the legalization of abortion and the drop in crime rates in the United States. His findings, which were published in the peer-reviewed journal "The Quarterly Journal of Economics," suggested that the legalization of abortion in the 1970s played a significant role in the subsequent decline in crime rates in the 1990s. This groundbreaking research helped to change the way economists and policymakers think about the relationship between social policies and crime.

Levitt's research in behavioral economics has also had a major impact on the field. His work has challenged traditional economic theories by demonstrating the ways in which individuals often behave irrationally when making economic decisions. In "Freakonomics," Levitt and co-author Stephen J. Dubner explore a wide range of topics, including the economics of drug dealing, the impact of parenting on child outcomes, and the hidden incentives that drive human behavior. Through a series of engaging and accessible case studies, the authors demonstrate how economic principles can be applied to seemingly unrelated areas of life, revealing the hidden forces that shape our behavior.

In addition to his research, Levitt is also an engaging and influential public speaker. He has given talks at prestigious institutions such as the TED conference and has appeared on a variety of media outlets, including "The Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Levitt has a talent for making complex economic ideas accessible and engaging to a wide audience, and his work has helped to bring economic theory to a broader public consciousness.

Overall, Steven Levitt is an influential and unconventional thinker whose work has had a major impact on the field of economics. Through his research, writing, and public speaking, he has challenged traditional economic theories and shed light on the hidden forces that shape our behavior. Levitt's innovative approach to economic study has made him a leading figure in the field, and his work continues to inspire and influence economists and policymakers around the world.