Parag A. Pathak

Parag A. Pathak is the Class of 1922 Professor of Economics at MIT, founding co-director of the NBER Working Group on Market Design, and founder of MIT’s Blueprint Labs.
Pathak’s research focuses on market design, a branch of microeconomics that studies the design and performance of market-clearing institutions and suggests improvements. He has worked extensively on the design of matching markets used in student assignment systems. This work has led to changes in systems throughout several large American cities, including Boston, New York City, Chicago, and Washington, DC.
Pathak is also an expert in the economics of education. He has authored leading studies on charter schools, high school reform, exam schools, vouchers, affirmative action, and school choice. He is also known for several studies of the housing market.
Pathak’s work on market design and education was recognized with several awards, including the 2018 John Bates Clark Medal awarded by the American Economic Association for the best American economist under age 40.
Pathak’s research has been supported by several government and private foundations. He has also served on the editorial board of several major journals, and is currently a co-editor of Econometrica.
Pathak is a co-founder of Avela Education, an ed-tech company that builds enrollment software. He has also consulted on issues related to competition policy.