Judd Kessler

Judd B. Kessler serves as the inaugural Howard Marks Endowed Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Kessler is recognized for his expertise in behavioral economics, public economics, and market design, utilizing laboratory and field experiments to investigate the motivations behind prosocial behaviors such as organ donation, worker effort, and charitable giving. His research on market design connects theory and practice, with applications in course allocation and organ priority systems. Kessler's work has been published in journals including American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Kessler has received recognition such as the Vernon L. Smith Ascending Scholar Prize and inclusion in Forbes 30 Under 30 in Law and Policy for his research on organ allocation markets. He is the author of "Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want," which examines the markets that influence everyday opportunities and provides strategies for navigating them. Kessler's insights have appeared in Knowledge at Wharton podcasts and articles, covering topics such as the decline of cover letters in the AI era, the unintended consequences of housing lotteries, and gender gaps in self-promotion, reflecting his ability to communicate economic principles to a broad audience.

Kessler teaches courses including "Behavioral Economics" and "Behavioral Econ, Markets," focusing on how behavioral insights inform government interventions and firm strategies. He frequently invites policymakers to participate in class discussions. Kessler's public speaking engagements, such as talks at Cornell on hidden markets, demonstrate his skill in presenting complex economic concepts to diverse audiences. Through teaching, research, and public engagement, Kessler advances the application of behavioral economics to real-world challenges in business, policy, and market design.