Steven Levitt
Full Name and Common Aliases
Steven David Levitt is a renowned American economist and academic known for his unconventional approach to understanding human behavior.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on January 29, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois. As of this writing, Steven Levitt is still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Levitt holds dual citizenship of the United States and Israel. His primary profession is that of an economist, with a focus on applying econometric techniques to study human behavior.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family of modest means in Chicago's North Shore suburbs, Levitt developed an interest in economics at an early age. He attended Deerfield High School, where he was an average student but showed potential in math and science. After graduating from high school, Levitt enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1989.
Major Accomplishments
Levitt's academic career took off when he began working on his Ph.D. at MIT, focusing on the field of economics. He developed a unique approach to understanding human behavior by applying econometric techniques to study unconventional topics such as crime rates and the impact of abortion laws on crime. His work gained significant attention, particularly with the publication of Freakonomics (2005), co-authored with Stephen Dubner.
Notable Works or Actions
Levitt's book Freakonomics became a bestseller and has since been translated into numerous languages. The book explores various topics using economic analysis, including:
The impact of abortion laws on crime rates
The influence of parents' names on children's educational outcomes
The behavior of sumo wrestlers and their role in the Japanese economy
The success of Freakonomics led to a sequel, SuperFreakonomics, published in 2009. Levitt has also worked as an economic advisor for various organizations, including the World Bank.
Impact and Legacy
Levitt's work has had a significant impact on the field of economics, inspiring new approaches to studying human behavior. His unconventional methods have led to a greater understanding of the underlying factors driving social phenomena.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Steven Levitt is widely quoted and remembered for his:
Unconventional approach to understanding human behavior
Ability to apply econometric techniques to study complex topics
Best-selling books, Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics, which have inspired a new generation of economists
Levitt's work has been widely covered in the media, including appearances on popular TV shows such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His ability to communicate complex economic concepts in an accessible way has made him a sought-after speaker and commentator.
In conclusion, Steven Levitt is a leading figure in the field of economics, known for his innovative approach to understanding human behavior.
Quotes by Steven Levitt
Experts are human, and humans respond to incentives. How any given expert treats you, therefore, will depend on how that expert's incentives are set up.
Morality, it could be argued, represents the way that people would like the world to work, wheareas economics represents how it actually does work.
An incentive is a bullet, a key: an often tiny object with astonishing power to change a situation
Solving a problem is hard enough; it gets that much harder if you’ve decided beforehand it can’t be done.
When people don’t pay the true cost of something, they tend to consume it inefficiently.
Information is a beacon, a cudgel, an olive branch, a deterrent--all depending on who wields it and how.
In the United States especially, politics and economics don’t mix well. Politicians have all sorts of reasons to pass all sorts of laws that, as well-meaning as they may be, fail to account for the way real people respond to real-world incentives.