About

About

The Harvard Economics Department has long tried to use scholarship to fight the world's most pressing problems. Our members -- faculty and students -- work on climate change and game theory, racial inequities and econometric methods, recessions and health insurance, gender norms and stock market crashes, political dysfunction and global poverty. Nothing should limit the economist's imagination.

Message from the Chair

Ed Glaeser

 

It is a great honor for me to serve as the chair of this superb department and to follow a string of outstanding chairs. This is my 30th year as a member of this community, and it has been a great joy to live my life in the company of such extraordinary people. Ideas have long sparkled along the hallways and in the seminar rooms of Littauer, and I am so happy that we will be returning physically to our building after August 2nd. Zoom, for all of its marvels, is no substitute for face-to-face interaction.

 

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At a Glance

  • 56

    Faculty
    Members

  • 19

    Areas of
    Study

  • 82

    Undergraduate
    Courses

  • 535

    Undergraduate
    Concentrators

  • 48

    Graduate
    Courses

  • 195

    Graduate
    Concentrators

The Department of Economics is part of the larger academe of teaching and research at Harvard University.

Laying the Littauer cornerstone, May 1938. Lucius Littauer, seated leftmost.

History

The Harvard University Department of Economics was established in 1897 under the division of History, Government, and Economics, which was created at the same time.

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Workshop with Students Presenting Work

Programs

Providing students with a strong grasp on fundamental economic principles and preparing students for productive and stimulating careers as economists.

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Contact Us

Department of Economics

Littauer Center
1805 Cambridge Street 
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone (617) 495-2144 
Fax (617) 495-7730