Judd Kessler

Judd Kessler serves as Assistant Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and holds the inaugural Howard Marks Endowed Professorship. His research bridges economic theory with real-world policy applications through rigorous experimental methodologies.

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Economics from Harvard University (2004)
• M.Phil. in Economics from Cambridge University (2005)
• Ph.D. in Business Economics from Harvard University (2011)

Kessler's research program centers on experimental investigations of public goods provision and market design innovations. He examines psychological and economic drivers behind contributions to collective welfare—applying insights to organ donation systems, charitable giving, and workplace productivity. His market design work focuses on translating theoretical frameworks into operational systems for course allocation and organ transplant priority queues, emphasizing practical implementation challenges. This dual focus positions him at the intersection of behavioral economics and institutional engineering.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent application of experimental methods to address societal inequities, with growing emphasis on gender dynamics in labor markets and information asymmetries in youth employment. His work demonstrates increasing engagement with policy implementation, particularly in healthcare and education systems.

Recognition includes:

• Forbes Magazine's '30 under 30' in Law and Policy (2012)

Kessler actively shapes public discourse through influential op-eds in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and VOX EU, addressing topics from ranked-choice voting to diversity hiring failures. His media presence through Knowledge@Wharton and Ripple Effect podcasts demonstrates commitment to translating academic insights for policymakers and practitioners. As a network member of the Inequality: Measurement, Interpretation, and Policy initiative, he contributes to multidisciplinary approaches to economic disparity.