Steven Levitt

Steven Levitt
Levitt in 2012
Born
Steven David Levitt

(1967-05-29) May 29, 1967
Children7
Academic background
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD)
Doctoral advisorJames M. Poterba
InfluencesGary Becker
Kevin Murphy
Josh Angrist
Academic work
DisciplineSocial economics
Applied Microeconomics
School or traditionChicago School of Economics
InstitutionsUniversity of Chicago
Doctoral studentsBrian Jacob
Notable ideasFreakonomics, SuperFreakonomics
AwardsJohn Bates Clark Medal (2003)
Website

Steven David Levitt (born May 29, 1967) is an American economist and co-author of the best-selling book Freakonomics and its sequels (along with Stephen J. Dubner). Levitt is a professor emeritus at the University of Chicago. Levitt was the winner of the 2003 John Bates Clark Medal for his work in the field of crime. He was co-editor of the Journal of Political Economy published by the University of Chicago Press until December 2007. In 2009, Levitt co-founded TGG Group, a business and philanthropy consulting company. He was chosen as one of Time magazine's "100 People Who Shape Our World" in 2006. A 2011 survey of economics professors named Levitt their fourth favorite living economist under the age of 60, after Paul Krugman, Greg Mankiw and Daron Acemoglu.