Dr. Raj Chetty

Biography

Raj Chetty is the Director of Opportunity Insights and the William Ackman Professor of Public Economics at Harvard University. He uses big data to understand how to give children from disadvantaged backgrounds a better chance at succeeding. Chetty's research effectively combines empirical evidence with economic theory to help design effective government policies. He works on a range of topics including tax policy, unemployment insurance, education, and affordable housing, which are widely cited in academia and media outlets, as well as during Congressional testimony. Chetty received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2003 and is noted for being one of the youngest tenured professors in Harvard's history. Before his tenure at Harvard, he was a professor at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Throughout his career, Chetty has received numerous awards for his research, including the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship and the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to the economist under 40 whose work is judged to have made a significant contribution to the field.

Research Interests