Sir Angus Deaton is a world-renowned economist whose pioneering work has reshaped understanding of consumption, poverty, and wellbeing across the globe. He currently serves as Presidential Professor of Economics at the University of Southern California Dornsife College and Distinguished Fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center, following his distinguished tenure as Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Economics and International Affairs Emeritus at Princeton University where he taught for over thirty years. Educated at Cambridge University, where he earned his doctorate in 1974, Deaton previously held professorships at the University of Bristol and contributed to the Department of Applied Economics at Cambridge working with Sir Richard Stone. A dual citizen of Britain and the United States, he has received numerous honors including knighthood in 2016 for his exceptional contributions to economics and international affairs.
Deaton's groundbreaking research has transformed how economists understand individual consumption behavior and its relationship to aggregate economic outcomes, culminating in his receipt of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. His identification of the Deaton Paradox revealed fundamental inconsistencies in the standard representative agent version of the permanent income hypothesis, challenging conventional economic thinking and leading to more sophisticated models of consumption behavior. His collaborative work with Anne Case on deaths of despair among middle-aged white Americans documented a disturbing trend of rising mortality rates from drugs, alcohol, and suicide, sparking widespread policy discussions about social and economic determinants of health. Deaton's methodological innovations in analyzing household surveys and measuring poverty have provided essential tools for researchers and policymakers worldwide, significantly improving the accuracy of poverty assessments in both developed and developing countries.
As a thought leader in economics, Deaton has profoundly influenced both academic research and public policy through his rigorous empirical approach and commitment to evidence-based analysis. His presidency of the American Economic Association in 2009 and membership in prestigious institutions including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society reflect his standing as one of the most influential economists of his generation. Deaton continues to advance research on health, happiness, and economic development, with current work focusing on the determinants of health in rich and poor countries and the measurement of inequality globally. His recent publications, including the New York Times best-seller Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism with Anne Case, demonstrate his ongoing commitment to addressing the most pressing socioeconomic challenges of our time through meticulous scholarship and clear communication.
