On Tuesday, March 4, Dr. Xavier Gabaix gave the presentation, “Complexity in Economic Life and Theory” to attendees at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Xavier Gabaix is the Pershing Square Economics Professor at Harvard University, NBER Research Associate and Research Associate at the Center for Economic Policy Research. He received his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris and his PhD in economics from Harvard.
Gabaix is a recipient of the Fischer Black Prize, awarded every two years to the best financial economist under 40, the Bernacer Prize, given to the best European economist under 40 in macroeconomics, as well as the Lagrange and Allais Prizes. His research focuses on finance, macroeconomics, and behavioral economics.
The event began with a catered reception with community members, students and faculty in attendance. Dr. Gabaix’s presentation discussed complexity in consumer decision-making, including cognition and mistake costs, and their effects on the economy and pricing strategies.
Remarks were given by Dr. Dennis Jansen, director of the Private Enterprise Research Center on Dr. Gabaix’s accomplishments. Following the question-and-answer period, Dr. Jansen spoke about friend and famed game-theory economist, Dr. John B. Van Huyck.