John ListNobel Conference 52
The Homer J. Livingston Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and the Chair of the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago
Lecture: Using Field Experiments to Make the World a Better Place
John List is a behavioral economist known for his innovative use of field experiments, experimental investigations of naturally-occurring environments that, in his words, “force the researcher to understand everyday phenomena, many of which we stumble upon frequently.” His research--in areas ranging from environmental economics to education, to charitable giving--has taken place in field sites ranging from charitable fundraising activities, the Chicago Board of Trade, sports memorabilia markets, open air markets, internet venues, shopping malls, to schools. His bestselling work, The Why Axis, coauthored with Uri Gneezy, presents the results of large scale experiments “in the wild” conducted to determine whether men are really more competitive than women; how to stop violence in urban schools; and why people discriminate.
List earned a BS from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and a PhD from the University of Wyoming. He is the author or coauthor of eight books. In addition to his University of Chicago position, he also holds research positions at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), and Tilburg University in the Netherlands. At present, he is working with colleagues to develop the Griffin Early Childhood Center, a venture aimed at experimentally addressing the question of how best to educate children.