Edward Ludwig Glaeser American economist Date of Birth: 01.05.1967 Country: USA

Biography of Edward Ludwig Glaeser

Edward Ludwig Glaeser is an American economist known for his book "Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier". The book, according to the New York Times, is a culmination of Glaeser's extensive research.

Glaeser was born on Manhattan, New York, to Ludwig Glaeser and Elizabeth Glaeser. His father was a successful architect, whose passion for urban infrastructure development inspired Glaeser to pursue research in the field. His mother, who worked for Mobil Corporation, also played a significant role in his career choice. When Glaeser was just 10 years old, his mother obtained a Master of Business Administration degree and often took him to her classes. It was his mother who taught him the basics of economics and theory.

Starting from 1992, Glaeser consistently published an average of five articles per year in leading economic journals, alongside working on books, articles, and blog publications. His works greatly influenced the development of empirical research in urban economics, particularly his studies on the historical evolution of economic hubs like Boston and New York City. His contributions also extended to various other fields, including public economics and the economics of religions, both in contemporary and historical perspectives.

Glaeser received recognition from esteemed colleagues, with Nobel laureate George Akerlof openly referring to him as a genius, and Gary Becker stating that Glaeser revolutionized the field of urban economics. Despite the wide range of topics he covered, Glaeser predominantly focused on applied economic theory, with a particular interest in game theory and price theory. His aim was to explain complex aspects of human behavior from both economic and social interaction perspectives. Glaeser developed models using innovative methods that have proven to be accurate and realistic, and later validated through practical observations. He also collaborated with his Harvard colleague Andrei Shleifer on several works.

Glaeser had a significant impact on research related to social capital, discovering subtle incentives that drive people to help others. In collaboration with Denise DiPasquale, he demonstrated that homeowners are generally more active citizens compared to renters, and individuals with higher levels of trust are less likely to deceive others. In recent years, Glaeser has challenged the notion that human capital largely explains the prosperity of urban regions.

Despite being primarily associated with economics, Glaeser has also engaged in research seemingly unrelated to the field. In 2003, he, along with David Cutler and Jesse Shapiro, explained the substantial increase in the American population over the past quarter-century.

Overall, Edward Ludwig Glaeser's extensive research and contributions have significantly advanced the understanding of urban economics and various related disciplines. His work continues to inspire new perspectives and innovations in the field.