Papers
2
Total Citations
3,783
H-Index
2
About
David Autor is a preeminent labor economist whose research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of technology’s impact on employment and inequality. His landmark essay, “Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation” (2015, over 3,400 citations), provides a masterful counterpoint to fears of mass technological unemployment. Autor demonstrates that automation does not simply destroy jobs; it also complements human labor, raising productivity and creating new, often more complex, tasks. This work, alongside “Polanyi’s Paradox and the Shape of Employment Growth” (2014), introduces a crucial framework: while computers excel at routine, rule-based tasks, they struggle with the tacit, intuitive knowledge—"knowing more than we can tell"—that defines much human work. This insight explains the persistent demand for non-routine cognitive and interpersonal skills. A recipient of the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, Autor’s research has been instrumental in documenting the polarization of the U.S. labor market, the hollowing out of middle-skill jobs, and the profound consequences for wages and social mobility. For any student or researcher seeking to understand the modern economy, Autor’s work is not just essential reading—it is the starting point for the debate.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation3,485 citations · 2015
- 2Polanyi's Paradox and the Shape of Employment Growth298 citations · 2014