The world's most cited economist holds office hours on a running track

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Andrei Shleifer is a titan of modern economics, ranked as the top economist in the world in 2024. Yet, instead of just staying in the ivory tower, he holds office hours while jogging on a 200-meter track, mentoring students through the physical and intellectual rigors of university life.

Andrei Shleifer's academic pedigree is elite. Born in the Soviet Union and moving to New York in 1976, he earned his BA from Harvard in 1982 and his PhD from MIT in 1986. Since joining Harvard's economics department in 1991, he has become a foundational figure in behavioral finance and corporate governance. His work has been central to understanding why markets aren't always efficient, notably through his 1997 paper "The Limits to Arbitrage," which helped explain the 1998 collapse of the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management. He also authored a 1994 paper with Josef Lakonishok and Robert Vishny regarding the historical performance of value versus growth stocks. Furthermore, his research explores how different countries vary in their use of bank debt compared to equity financing. He has also published seven books and over one hundred articles on these subjects.

Despite his status—holding over 400,000 citations on Google Scholar and being ranked as the world's top economist by RePEc in 2024—Shleifer maintains a unique pedagogical style. He uses the Albert H. Gordon Indoor Track to connect with students, specifically those in the Crimson varsity track and field program. This unconventional setting allows him to mentor athletes like high jumper Joachim "Yaya" Johnson and sprinter Reuben Henry-Daire, helping them navigate complex topics like political economics and satellite-based data analysis for tracking illegal fishing. This mentorship began in the 1990s when he advised Paul Gompers during his doctoral studies. He also holds traditional office hours for students who do not participate in the running sessions. His students describe him as a resource who encourages them to pursue challenging coursework and self-directed study.

Shleifer’s approach emphasizes Shleifer’s approach emphasizes immersing oneself in data to let hypotheses emerge naturally. He has served as an editor for the Quarterly Journal of Economics and holds fellowships in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His academic journey was influenced by a freshman math course with Brad DeLong, which helped him realize his true path.

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