Judd Kessler

Judd Kessler is the inaugural Howard Marks Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He is also the author of Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want. It’s a fascinating exploration of what it takes to navigate the “hidden markets” that we face every day. Whether you’re trying to score a reservation at a hot new restaurant, attempting to get your kid into a nearby preschool, or hoping to get more matches on a dating app, Judd helps you understand the market rules you’re playing by, and how to win.

In 2021, Judd was awarded the Vernon L. Smith Ascending Scholar Prize for his pathbreaking economics research, including his work on market design. For his research on organ donation, Forbes named him one of the “30 under 30” in Law and Policy. At Wharton, Kessler helped develop a system to match students with their preferred courses that is now widely used by top business and law schools.

An award-winning teacher and sought-after speaker, Judd has written for popular audiences since he was on staff at the Harvard Crimson. His research has been featured in media such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, Politico, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review, Hidden Brain and Freakonomics.

He holds a bachelor’s degree, MA, and PhD from Harvard University and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge.