Joshua Angrist is the Ford Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  A leading figure in the field of applied econometrics, Professor Angrist is celebrated for his groundbreaking work on causal inference and the use of natural experiments to answer critical policy questions. His research has profoundly influenced our understanding of education, labor markets, and public policy, offering rigorous and innovative tools for measuring cause-and-effect relationships in economics.  In 2021, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his "methodological contributions to the analysis of causal relationships".  He is also co-founder and director of MIT's Blueprint Labs, and a co-author of the influential texts Mostly Harmless Econometrics and Mastering 'Metrics. Professor Angrist’s work exemplifies the power of empirical research to inform and improve the world we live in.  

For the William Comanor '59 Distinguished Lecture, Professor Angrist will be presenting a talk titled "Escaping the Elite Illusion". In the talk, Professor Angrist challenges the common belief that attending highly selective, elite educational institutions is essential for economic success. Drawing from his extensive research in the economics of education, Professor Angrist demonstrates that the perceived advantages of elite schools often do not translate into significant causal benefits for students. Through rigorous analysis, Professor Angrist and his colleagues have found that, despite their competitive admissions and high-achieving student bodies, these exam schools do not necessarily enhance student achievement compared to non-selective public schools. This suggests that the apparent success associated with elite institutions may be more attributable to the abilities and efforts of the students they admit rather than the schools themselves. Furthermore, Professor Angrist emphasizes that factors such as the quality of teaching and student dedication play a more pivotal role in determining long-term prosperity than the prestige of an educational institution. He advocates for policies that promote equal access to quality education across all socio-economic levels, arguing that success should not be confined to those who attend elite schools.

Recommended background reading: 2022 Nobel Lecture