David Deming

David Deming is the Isabelle and Scott Black Professor of Political Economy and Professor of Economics at Harvard University. He serves as the Danoff Dean of Harvard College and faculty dean of Kirkland House. His research focuses on labor economics, education policy, and the evolving demands of the labor market, particularly the growing importance of soft skills and decision-making abilities. He leads the Harvard Project on Workforce, aiming to bridge education and workforce development pathways. Deming has been recognized with the Sherwin Rosen Prize for contributions to labor economics. His work combines large-scale data analysis with experimental methods, often addressing topics like free college initiatives, elite college admissions disparities, and the impact of technology on work.

Key Affiliations:

• Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy (Harvard Kennedy School)
• Harvard Project on Workforce (cross-Harvard collaboration)
• Kirkland House Faculty Dean

Research Focus:

• Education policy and inequality
• Labor market dynamics and skill demand
• Impact of technology (e.g., AI) on work
• Socioeconomic diversity in elite education

Awards:

• Sherwin Rosen Prize (2022)

Grants & Projects:

• Lead researcher on labor market transformation studies
• Co-author of federal higher education policy proposals
• Recipient of major grants for workforce development research

Labs/Teams:

• Harvard Project on Workforce (policy & applied research)
• Malcolm Wiener Center social policy initiatives