Richard H. Thaler is a Nobel Memorial Prize-winning economist and one of the founding fathers of behavioral economics. He is the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His pioneering work, often in collaboration with Daniel Kahneman, redefined the study of decision-making by demonstrating how psychological biases systematically influence economic choices in areas such as finance and public policy.
His ideas have profoundly influenced public policy and commercial markets globally, most famously through the global bestseller Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness. This book, co-authored with Cass Sunstein, introduced key concepts of behavioral economics that can be leveraged to tackle major societal problems. Thaler’s work has been sought out by governments worldwide, including the Obama administration and the David Cameron-led coalition government, illustrating the practical, real-world application of his theories.
Thaler is a leading theorist in behavioral finance and currently serves as the Director of the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago. He is also a Founding Principal at Fuller and Thaler Asset Management, a firm that uses his insights into human irrationality to find mispriced stocks and achieve superior returns. His commitment to bringing economics into public discourse is further evidenced by his regular column for The New York Times News Service, where he explores solutions to America's financial challenges. A highly honored academic, Thaler is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2017 for his contributions. He is a frequent keynote speaker at world-class forums, sharing his groundbreaking research from books like Misbehaving and Nudge. His presentations provide audiences with an accessible, authoritative framework for leveraging the predictable irrationality of human behavior to drive better outcomes in business, finance, and public life.
