Ufuk Akcigit

Ufuk Akcigit is the Arnold C. Harberger Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, affiliated with the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics and the Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) for Economics. He serves as a Research Professor at the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH), Co-Director of the Growth Academy, and Research Associate at NBER and CEPR. His work bridges macroeconomic theory and empirical applications in innovation, growth, and firm dynamics.

• BA in Economics, Koç University (2003)
• PhD in Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2009)

Akcigit’s research focuses on the drivers of economic growth through technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and firm-level productivity. His recent book, The Economics of Creative Destruction, co-edited with John Van Reenen, analyzes how innovation addresses inequality and climate change. He also led the World Bank’s World Development Report 2024 and developed empirical frameworks for measuring inventor dynamics and small business employment trends.

His publications span topics like cross-border venture capital impacts, age-related innovation decline, and the role of education in fostering creativity. Awards include the Guggenheim Fellowship (2021), Econometric Society Fellowship (2021), and Kiel Institute’s Global Economy Prize (2022). He has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Kaufmann Foundation, and Max Planck-Humboldt Foundation, underscoring his influence in macroeconomic research.