Robert Gibbons

Robert Gibbons is the Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Professor of Organizational Economics in the Department of Economics at MIT. His research focuses on organizational economics, relational contracts, and governance structures within and beyond firms. He has held leadership roles, including Director of the NBER working group on organizational economics and Co-Director of the CASBS summer institute on organizational effectiveness.

Education and Affiliations:

• PhD in Economics (not explicitly stated, inferred from roles)
• MIT Sloan School of Management
• Department of Economics, MIT

Research Interests: Gibbons explores how informal agreements (relational contracts) shape organizational performance, particularly in contexts like firms, healthcare systems, and public institutions. His work bridges economic theory with practical management challenges, emphasizing adaptation, governance, and cultural dynamics.

Awards and Honors:

• Ronald Coase Lecture (2022)
• Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising (2020)
• Teacher of the Year, MIT Economics Department (2009-10, 1987-88)

Labs/Teams: Leads initiatives such as the NBER working group and CASBS institute, fostering collaborative research on organizational effectiveness and governance.