Richard J. Murnane

Richard J. Murnane is the Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Research Professor of Education and Society at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). His work focuses on the intersection of education policy, economic inequality, and labor markets. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1974) and has authored/co-authored seminal publications such as Whither Opportunity (2011) and Restoring Opportunity (2014), exploring how income inequality impacts educational opportunities for low-income families.

His research examines trends in private school enrollment, voucher systems in Chile, and the role of technology in shaping labor markets. Murnane collaborates with leading scholars like Greg Duncan and Sean Reardon. He has served on editorial boards for journals such as the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management and holds board roles at the National Academy of Education and the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation.

Awards include the Russell Sage Spencer, Smith Richardson, and Hewlitt honors. His work bridges academic research with policy impact, emphasizing equitable education access and evidence-based reforms. Murnane’s contributions span education economics, labor market dynamics, and social policy, with a focus on marginalized populations.