Jon Levin
Born 1972 · Age 53
American economist specializing in microeconomics and industrial organization; long-time Stanford faculty member; Dean of Stanford GSB (2016–2024); 13th President of Stanford University (beginning Aug 1, 2024). John Bates Clark Medal recipient.
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Life & Career Timeline
President's Award for Academic Performance, Stanford
Received the President's Award for Academic Performance at Stanford (listed on profile).
Awarded Winston Churchill Scholarship (English-Speaking Union)
Received the Winston Churchill Scholarship (listed as 1994–1996).
Completed B.A. (English) & B.S. (Mathematics), Stanford
Graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Mathematics (both 1994).
Publication: 'An Introduction to Vote-Counting Schemes' (JEP, 1995)
Early influential publication co-authored/published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives (1995).
George Webb Medley Thesis & Exam Prizes (Oxford)
Awarded the George Webb Medley Thesis Prize and Exam Prize at Oxford (1996).
M.Phil., Economics, Oxford University
Completed an M.Phil. in Economics at Oxford (degree year 1996).
Publication: 'An optimal auction for complements'
Published 'An optimal auction for complements' (journal entry listed for 1997).
Ph.D. in Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Completed Ph.D. in Economics at MIT (1999).
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Cowles Foundation
Held a post-doctoral fellowship at the Cowles Foundation (1999–2000).
Joined Stanford as Assistant Professor
Appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Stanford (2000–2005).
Publication: 'Information and competition in US forest service timber auctions' (JPE)
Published jointly with Susan Athey in Journal of Political Economy (2001).
National Fellowship, Hoover Institution
Served as a National Fellow at the Hoover Institution (2002–2003).
Publication: 'Multilateral contracting and the employment relationship' (QJE, 2002)
Published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics (2002).
Publication: 'Relational incentive contracts' (AER)
Published influential paper 'Relational incentive contracts' in the American Economic Review (2003).
Faculty Research Fellow, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
Became a Faculty Research Fellow at the NBER (2004–2008).
Faculty Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR)
Served as Faculty Fellow at SIEPR (listed 2004–2009).
Research Fellowship, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Received a research fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (2004–2006).
Department of Economics Teaching Prize, Stanford
Received the Department of Economics Teaching Prize at Stanford (2004).
Associate Editor, American Economic Review (start)
Appointed Associate Editor of the American Economic Review (tenure reported 2005–2014).
Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching, Stanford
Awarded the Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching at Stanford (2005).
Promoted to Associate Professor, Stanford
Promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Economics (2005–2008).
Publication: 'Profit sharing and the role of professional partnerships' (QJE, 2005)
Published with Tadelis in the Quarterly Journal of Economics (2005).
Publication: 'Matching and price competition' (AER)
Published 'Matching and price competition' in the American Economic Review (2006, with Bulow).
Member, Committee on Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid (start)
Served on Stanford's Committee on Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid (2007–2013).
Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
Served as a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (2007–2008).
Publication: 'Estimating dynamic models of imperfect competition' (Econometrica)
Co-authored a major Econometrica paper on dynamic models (2007).
Graduate Placement Officer, Stanford Economics (2008–2009)
Served as Graduate Placement Officer for Stanford's economics department (2008–2009).
Elected Fellow, Econometric Society
Named a Fellow of the Econometric Society (2008).
Promotion to Full Professor, Stanford Department of Economics
Became Full Professor in Stanford's Department of Economics (2008–2016).
Research Associate, NBER (start)
Listed as a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (starting 2008; ongoing).
Publication: 'Liquidity Constraints and Imperfect Information in Subprime Lending' (AER, 2009)
Co-authored a paper in the American Economic Review on subprime lending (2009).
Member, Advisory Board of econjobmarket.org
Served on the advisory board for econjobmarket.org (2009–2013).
Member, Sloan Foundation Fellowship Committee (start)
Served on the Sloan Foundation Fellowship Committee (listed 2009–2014).
Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR)
Elevated to Senior Fellow at SIEPR (2009–present).
Associate Editor / Editorial roles (ongoing activity)
Held editorial roles across leading journals (e.g., Theoretical Economics 2009–2011; Review of Economic Studies foreign editor 2008–2011; JEL editorial board 2006–2009).
Member, Toulouse Network on Information Technology (start)
Listed as a member of the Toulouse Network on Information Technology (2008–2019 listed in profile).
Major conference presentation: American Economic Association annual meeting
Presented work on online advertising and market design (listed as presentations at AEA meetings in 2010).
Co-author of multi-author health-care reform recommendations
Contributed as co-author to 'Toward a 21st-Century Health Care System: Recommendations for Health Care Reform' (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2009/2010 time frame listed).
Member, Working Group on Health Information Technology
Participated in the Working Group on Health Information Technology (2009–2010 list entry).
Publication: 'Early Admissions at Selective Colleges' (AER, 2010)
Co-authored a major AER paper on early admissions (Avery & Levin, 2010).
John Bates Clark Medal
Awarded the John Bates Clark Medal by the American Economic Association (2011), given to the economist under 40 who has made the most significant contribution to economic thought.
Chair, Stanford Department of Economics
Served as Chair of the Department of Economics at Stanford (2011–2014).
Holbrook Working Professor of Price Theory (named)
Named Holbrook Working Professor of Price Theory at Stanford (2012–present in some sources; listed as Holbrook Working Professor starting 2012).
Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum
Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (listed 2012).
Publication: 'Pricing and Welfare in Health Plan Choice' (AER, 2012)
Co-authored AER paper on health plan choice and welfare effects (Bundorf, Levin, Mahoney, 2012).
Publication: 'Premiums in health insurance markets...' (AER/AER-related work, 2012)
Produced influential empirical work on health insurance markets and welfare (2012).
Named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (profile listing)
Recognition for leadership and global engagement (profile indicates the honor in the early 2010s; listed specifically as 2012 in some sources).
Edited volume: 'The Economics of Internet Markets' (2013)
Contributed to and edited volumes on internet markets and empirical industrial organization (2013).
Publication: 'The impact of credit scoring on consumer lending' (RAND Journal of Economics, 2013)
Co-authored paper on credit scoring and consumer lending (Einav, Jenkins, Levin, 2013).
Member, Executive Committee of the American Economic Association (2013–2015)
Served on the AEA Executive Committee (2013–2015).
Member, Council of the Econometric Society (2013–2015)
Elected member of the Council of the Econometric Society (2013–2015).
Fellow, Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory
Listed as a Fellow (profile notes a 2013 fellowship listing).
Served as consultant on FCC broadcast incentive auction design (role reported)
Participated as one of the economists in the design of the FCC's broadcast incentive auction (profile cites his participation; year for auction activity centered mid-2010s).
Led Stanford GSB through strategic initiatives as Dean
As Dean of the Graduate School of Business, oversaw school strategy, faculty recruitment, and program direction (2016–2024 tenure).
Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Appointed Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean of Stanford GSB (2016–2024 in the profiles).
Publication: 'Contract Pricing in Consumer Credit Markets' (Econometrica reprints/reflection; earlier related work)
Ongoing high-profile publications and citations; (several works reprinted/recognized across this period).
Trustee, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (start)
Joined the Board of Trustees of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (listed 2020–present).
Continued scholarship on internet platforms and health markets
Reported research focus shifted to internet platforms, health care markets and new datasets (ongoing research emphasis listed in profiles).
Member, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (start)
Appointed to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (listed 2021–present on Stanford profile).
Courses & doctoral practicum teaching at Stanford
Continued to teach Industrial Organization seminars and doctoral practicum courses through 2023–24 academic year (course listings in profile).
Public profile & leadership milestone
Transitioned from Dean of Stanford GSB (2016–2024) to University President; major leadership milestone noted across biographies.
Public recognition as leading economist and academic administrator
By 2024, widely recognized: John Bates Clark Medalist, former GSB Dean, appointed Stanford President; frequent speaker, advisor to policy bodies and private sector.
Became 13th President of Stanford University
Assumed office as President of Stanford University and holds the Bing Presidential Professorship (effective August 1, 2024).
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