The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) at the University of Chicago is pleased to announce that Chad Syverson, the George C. Tiao Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Institute. He will serve in this role alongside John List, who was recently announced as BFI’s incoming Director, effective July 1, 2025.
A leading scholar in industrial organization, Chad brings a wealth of insight and institutional knowledge to this role. His research has shaped how we understand the interactions of firm structure, market structure, and productivity. Chad is the co-author (with Austan Goolsbee and Steve Levitt) of Microeconomics, an intermediate-level text, and has published extensively in top journals across economics.
“We are thrilled to have Chad in this position,” said Erik Hurst, Director of the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics and the Roman Family Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and John E. Jeuck Faculty Fellow at Chicago Booth. “He has been a central part of BFI’s scholarly community for many years, having served as Faculty Co-Director of BFI’s IO Research Initiative.”
In addition to his academic contributions, Syverson is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and has served on National Academies committees as well as chair of the Chicago Census Research Data Center Board. Prior to joining the University of Chicago faculty in 2001, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Loral Defense Systems and Unisys Corporation. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota and earned his PhD in economics from the University of Maryland.