Tyler Cowen

Tyler Cowen

Professor of Economics, George Mason University

Tyler is the Holbert L. Harris Chair of Economics at George Mason University and serves as chairman and general director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He is co-author of the popular economics blog Marginal Revolution and co-founder of the online educational platform Marginal Revolution University.

Tyler also writes a column for Bloomberg View, and he has contributed to The Wall Street Journal and Money. In 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek profiled Tyler as “America’s Hottest Economist” after his e-book, The Great Stagnation, appeared twice on The New York Times e-book bestseller list.

He graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor's degree in economics and earned a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. He also runs a podcast series called Conversations with Tyler. His latest book Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives and Winners Around the World is co-authored with venture capitalist Daniel Gross.

Everything Videos
25 min
The Big Think Interview
The history of work: 3 experts debunk common myths
“It’s remarkable how weak the correlation between success and intelligence is.” Here’s what skills do matter, from 3 business experts.
Cal Newport
The future with rays of light in the background.
30 min
The Big Think Interview
Debunking doomerism: 4 futurists on why we’re actually not f*cked
Four visionaries—Kevin Kelly, Peter Schwartz, Ari Wallach, and Tyler Cowen—share their insights on the future, urging viewers to consider the impact of their actions on future generations.
Kevin Kelly
7 min
The Big Think Interview
Why you shouldn’t hire the smartest job candidate
Economist Tyler Cowen explains why intelligence is overrated. Here’s what to look for instead.
Tyler Cowen
4 min
Explain It Like I’m Smart
Only high performers pass this kind of job interview
Here’s what job interviewers are testing you for, according to economist Tyler Cowen.
Tyler Cowen
Statue of Liberty against an orange background with a horizontal torn bar obscuring the middle section of the statue.
5 min
The Well
Tyler Cowen: America is at a critical point in history
“There’s a sense of crisis today that we did not have in the 1980’s or 90’s” — economist Tyler Cowen on progress in America.
Tyler Cowen
John Templeton Foundation
4 min
Devil’s Advocate
The case for and against cryptocurrency
Economist Tyler Cowen says there are good reasons to be crypto-skeptical.
Tyler Cowen
5 min
Progress
What happened to America?
An interview with economist Tyler Cowen on why American progress has seemed to stall and how we can get it back on track.
Tyler Cowen
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