Kőszegi Botond

Botond Kőszegi is an Ordinary Member of the Academy of Europe (elected in 2015) and a Professor at Central European University since August 2012. Previously, he held academic positions at the University of California, Berkeley (2010-2013 as Professor, 2006-2010 as Associate Professor, 2000-2006 as Assistant Professor) and served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at MIT (2002-2003). His research focuses on Behavioral Economics and Economic Theory.

• Ph.D. in Economics from MIT (2000), dissertation: 'Essays in Behavioral Economics'
• B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Mathematics from Harvard University (1996)
• Secondary education at Fazekas Mihály Gyakorló Gimnázium, Budapest (1992-1996)

Botond Kőszegi's scholarly work bridges theoretical economics with behavioral models, emphasizing reference-dependent utility, consumer decision-making, and intertemporal choice. His research explores how psychological biases, such as loss aversion and overconfidence, influence economic behavior and market dynamics. Publications analyze topics like consumer pricing, retirement planning, and policy implications of behavioral economics.

His 15 most recent publications span 2001-2014, with a focus on reference-dependent preferences (2006), behavioral contract theory (2014), and market-dependent valuations (2014). Key trends include integrating cognitive biases into economic models, analyzing pricing mechanisms, and applying behavioral insights to public policy.

• ERC Starting Grant #313341 (2012-2017), 'Behavioral Theory'
• NSF Grant (2007-2010) on reference-dependent utility
• Yrjö Jahnsson Award (2015), Hicks-Tinbergen Medal (2008)
• Best Teacher Awards (2013, 2014) and Best Mentor Award (2010)

Kőszegi has received significant competitive grants and fellowships throughout his career, including the MIT Economics Fellowship (1996-1998) and Sloan Dissertation Fellowship (1999). He has been recognized for teaching and mentorship excellence, with multiple awards from Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Central European University.