CAMBRIDGE — David Autor has been named head of the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with his appointment effective July 1, 2026. He will succeed Jon Gruber, who served as head of the department from July 2023 until July 1, 2026.

Autor joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) faculty in 1999. He holds the title of Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in the MIT Department of Economics. Autor serves as faculty co-director of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work, and also as co-director of the National Bureau of Economic Research Labor Studies Program.

Agustín Rayo, the Kenan Sahin Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at MIT, commented on the appointment. "David is a world-class labor economist," Rayo said. "He is also an individual of wisdom and insight." Rayo added, "I look forward to welcoming him to the school's leadership team." Gruber holds the title of Ford Professor of Economics.

"I've been at MIT since 1999, and I owe my career to the Institute, the department, and colleagues who are as kind as they are accomplished," Autor said. "Stepping into this role is a chance to contribute to a place that has shaped me at every stage." He said, "I aims to build on the stellar standard set by its faculty and students while navigating budget tightening and a shifting political landscape."

"Just as important, I want to lead the department toward the opportunities that advancing AI is opening in how we teach and what we research," Autor said. He was selected as an AI2050 Senior Fellow by the Schmidt Sciences Foundation in 2024 and was named a NOMIS Distinguished Scientist in 2023.

Autor's academic background includes a BA in psychology from Tufts University in 1989 and a PhD in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 1999. His recognitions include the Sherwin Rosen Prize for contributions to Labor Economics, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship. In 2019, he received the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, followed by the Heinz 25th Special Recognition Award from the Heinz Family Foundation in 2020, and the Society for Progress Medal in 2021. He also received the MIT MacVicar Faculty Fellowship, the James A. and Ruth Levitan Award for excellence in teaching, the Undergraduate Economic Association Teaching Award, and a faculty appreciation award from an MIT program.

Why It Matters

The appointment of David Autor as the new head of MIT's Department of Economics signifies a leadership transition within one of the institution's key academic units. This change aligns with the department's ongoing operations and its previous leadership structure, with Autor succeeding Jon Gruber. The incoming head has outlined priorities that include navigating financial and political challenges, as well as integrating artificial intelligence into teaching and research methodologies, indicating a forward-looking direction for the department's academic focus.