Dr. Ufuk Akcigit

Professor

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Biography

Ufuk Akcigit is a widely recognized researcher at the University of Chicago, holding the position of Arnold C. Harberger Professor in the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics. His work primarily focuses on economic growth, innovation, firm dynamics, and entrepreneurship, contributing significantly to the understanding of productivity and economic mobility. Akcigit has served as the Lead Academic for the World Development Report 2024, exploring the middle-income trap, and he is currently involved with the World Development Report 2026 focused on artificial intelligence development. He is a Co-Director of the Growth Academy and has consulted for major international institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. His achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards such as the Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science in 2025 and the Max Planck–Humboldt Research Award in 2021. Akcigit earned his PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2009 and joined the University of Chicago faculty in 2015 after serving at the University of Pennsylvania. His research has been published in leading academic journals, shaping contemporary discourse in his fields of study.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Chicago

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Listening
Required:26
Reading
Required:26
Writing
Required:26
Speaking
Required:26
Total
Required:104
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree Writing sample Candidate statement
Application Checklist
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Specialization Notes

Department of Philosophy