David Autor named head of the Department of Economics
A faculty member since 1999, Autor is a leading researcher in artificial intelligence and the work of the future.
Department
Economics
Exploring the societal impacts of AI
During the AI and Society Forum, leading MIT researchers examined critical questions about AI’s influence on employment and democracy.
“We can’t ship goods without functioning ports”
PhD student Chelsea Mitchell studies the economic forces that shape shipping ports and their ability to support global supply chains.
QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2026-27
Ranking at the top for the 15th year in a row, the Institute also places first in 12 subject areas.
A plan to preserve wetlands without stopping development
Study shows the tradeoff between conservation and growth is less stark with a locally adjusted policy featuring both tradeable offsets and taxes.
MIT economist Whitney Newey awarded Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics
Newey has been a leading figure in econometric theory for more than four decades, shaping both research and training in the field.
MIT affiliates elected to National Academy of Sciences for 2026
Six MIT faculty, along with 10 additional alumni, are recognized by their peers for their outstanding contributions to research in the natural and social sciences.
Technology usually creates jobs for young, skilled workers. Will AI do the same?
A new study of the postwar U.S. shows which kinds of workers historically filled new tech-enabled jobs.
Two from MIT named 2026 Knight-Hennessy Scholars
The prestigious fellowship funds graduate studies at Stanford University.
Study: Firms often use automation to control certain workers’ wages
MIT economists found US companies tend to target employees earning a “wage premium,” which increases inequality but not necessarily productivity.
Study: Immigrants help address the US eldercare shortage
Economists find that in metro areas with more immigration, nurses are spending more time with elderly patients.
MIT affiliates elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for 2026
The prestigious honor society honors four MIT faculty and 13 additional MIT alumni among more than 250 new members.
Why does wealth inequality matter?
An MIT Stone Center event examined the origins, mechanisms, and political consequences of high inequality.
QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2026
The Institute also ranks second in seven subject areas.
Advancing international trade research and finding community
Sojun Park, a postdoc at the Center for International Studies, has learned much from his research on intellectual property as well as his interactions with students and mentors at MIT.