Ufuk Akcigit

I am very happy and honored to receive this year’s Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award to study the economic gap between East and West Germany w/ @IWH_Halle. And push forward my research on what drives innovation and how we can improve it @maxplanckpress @UChicago @BeckerFriedman

Featuring insights from UChicago’s @ufukakcigit, this @FinancialTimes piece examines what the AI brain drain means for research, policy, and the future of knowledge production. Read more: ft.com/content/11f193…

The “great sucking sound” of AI brain drain via @FT l ft.com/content/11f193…

Why are universities struggling to keep AI talent? Because attention, and money, drive where researchers go. A @BeckerFriedman research brief on our new paper with Craig Chikis, Emin Dinlersoz, and @ngoldschlag (@UChi_Economics @UofC @UChicagoSSD): bfi.uchicago.edu/insights/atten…

AI talent is rapidly leaving academia for industry. By 2019, 68% of AI scientists worked in firms. Top AI salaries in industry rose from $595K to $1.9M, while academic pay barely moved. Attention—and money—are reshaping where innovation happens. tinyurl.com/Akcigit-et-al-…

The @WorldBank's 2024 World #Development Report owes much to these three great minds--and one not pictured, my colleague @SomikCities: From L-R, #Nobel laureates Peter Howitt and Philippe Aghion with @UChicago's @ufukakcigit. worldbank.org/en/publication…

Nobel laureate Philippe Aghion cites the groundbreaking work of my @WorldBank colleague Somik Lall and @ufukakcigit, authors of the 2024 World Development Report. 2025 prize lectures in economic sciences | Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion a... youtube.com/live/jQCkCcuSJ… via @YouTube

Productiviteitsgoeroe Ufuk Akcigit: ‘We zijn geobsedeerd door grote bedrijven’ fd.nl/economie/15789…

I’m deeply honored to receive this year’s @kocuniversity Rahmi Koç Science Medal. Our work on growth, innovation, & entrepreneurship is powered by an amazing team. I am infinitely grateful to all my students, co-authors, and mentors. @UChicago @UChi_Economics

The November issue of JPE is now available at journals.uchicago.edu/toc/jpe/2025/1…. This issue features an In Memoriam to Robert E. Lucas Jr.--a tribute to his lasting impact on economics and as JPE editor. Contributors include T. Sargent, F. Alvarez, B. Jovanovic, and N. Stokey. #econtwitter

A historic day! My dear coauthors Philippe and Peter, along with our friend Joel, have received the Nobel Prize for Creative Destruction. I couldn’t be prouder—what a moment for economics, innovation, and the spirit of creative destruction!

When the time comes, #Ukraine️'s reconstruction will depend on a lot more than the rebuilding of roads and bridges. @UChicago's @ufukakcigit and my @WorldBank colleague @SomikCities draw lessons from the example of West Germany after World War II. blogs.worldbank.org/en/development…

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: "The Marshall Plan: Then and Now". What happened during postwar Europe’s recovery—and what lessons can we draw for growth today? Joel Mokyr (@NUEconomics) highlights strategies, policies, and attitudes that shaped a turning point in #EconomicHistory.

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: “Can AI Transform Public Service Delivery?” Michael Kremer (@DILatUChicago) walks through the possibilities of developing more efficient public services worldwide. #PublicServiceAI

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: Innovation needs venture capital—but policy is the wild card. @realjoshlerner (@HarvardHBS) explains why fueling startup ecosystems takes smart investment and even smarter governance in "Growing Entrepreneurial Clusters and Innovation". #GlobalVenture

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: @profjamesevans (@UChicagoSSD) explores how countries are advancing in the AI landscape, highlighting their diverse strategies and contributions to global AI leadership. #AIleadership

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: Chang-Tai Hsieh (@ChicagoBooth) compares the behavior of top conglomerates across various countries his lecture "Scale vs. Scope". #GlobalBusiness

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25, Day 4: @somikcities (@WorldBank_IEG) builds on yesterday's energy crisis session with "Energy, Emissions, and Creative Destruction", outlining the need for global energy efficiency and cooperation. #EnergyEfficiency

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: @ufukakcigit (@UChi_Economics) digs deep into smart economic growth concepts from the @WorldBank_IEG's 2024 World Development Report, The Middle-Income Trap. #Ideas4Impact

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: Prof. Michael Greenstone (@UChiEnergy) discusses "The Economics of the Global Energy Challenge," emphasizing how nations must balance reliable energy, clean air, and climate goals—and the importance of pricing energy’s true costs. #EnergyEcon

LIVE at #GrowthAcademy25: @BrentNeiman (@ChicagoBooth) unpacks "Global Capital Allocation" and the forces that define “who owns what” around the world. #GlobalCapital