Simon Johnson

Simon Johnson is the Ronald A. Kurtz (1954) Professor of Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he leads the Global Economics and Management group. He is co-director of the Shaping the Future of Work Initiative and a Research Affiliate at Blueprint Labs. Johnson holds a PhD from MIT (1989) and has held prominent roles, including Chief Economist at the IMF (2007-2008) and board membership at Fannie Mae. His research focuses on institutions' impact on economic growth, technological progress, and labor markets.

• Education: PhD in Economics (MIT, 1989), MA in Economics (University of Manchester), BA in Economics and Politics (Oxford).
• Key Roles:
  • Professor at MIT Sloan
  • Member of the CFA Institute Systemic Risk Council
  • Former IMF Chief Economist

Johnson's research explores how institutions shape prosperity, particularly through works like Power and Progress and Jump-Starting America. His recent focus includes AI's societal impact and inclusive growth strategies. He emphasizes policies that align technology with shared prosperity, advocating for regulatory frameworks to prevent worker displacement.

Awards:

• 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (with Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson)
• 2017 Jamieson Prize
• 2013 Main Street Hero Award

Grants & Labs: Co-director of MIT's Shaping the Future of Work Initiative, affiliated with Blueprint Labs. His work bridges academia and policy, influencing debates on economic inequality and institutional resilience.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with MIT's Department of Economics and the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, fostering interdisciplinary research on innovation and governance.