Lawrence F. Katz (1959–)

This chapter reviews the intellectual contributions of Lawrence F. Katz, whose work has catalysed two intellectual revolutions in economics. One applies the lens of general equilibrium theory to illuminate the interaction between supply, demand and institutions in determining wage levels and wage inequality. A second designs, fields and orchestrates large-scale human subjects experiments to answer fundamental questions in social science. Katz’s contributions to innovation are not bounded by authorship. Through his editorship of the Quarterly Journal of Economics and his mentorship of more than 200 PhD students, Katz has shaped the agenda of the economics profession for over three decades.