Russell Roberts

Russell David Roberts, often known as Russ Roberts, is a prominent Israeli‑American economist whose work spans academia, public commentary, and popular media. Born on September 19, 1954, in Memphis, Tennessee, he earned a B.A. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975 before pursuing graduate studies at the University of Chicago under the legendary Gary Becker, receiving his Ph.D. in 1981 with a dissertation on government transfer program design. Throughout his distinguished academic career, Roberts has taught at institutions such as George Mason University, Washington University in St. Louis—where he founded the Center for Experiential Learning at the Olin Business School—University of Rochester, Stanford University, and UCLA, establishing a reputation for clear, engaging exposition of economic principles. Since March 2006, he has hosted the highly respected EconTalk podcast, produced by the Library of Economics and Liberty, where he has interviewed over a dozen Nobel laureates, including Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, and Joseph Stiglitz, as well as leading innovators like Sam Altman, Marc Andreessen, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb, making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. In addition to his podcasting success, Roberts has authored several books that blend narrative storytelling with economic theory, such as The Invisible Heart, The Price of Everything, and How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life, each illustrating concepts like market trade, price systems, and moral sentiments through vivid characters and dialogues. Appointed the third president of Shalem College in Jerusalem in 2021, he emphasizes the importance of a true liberal arts education grounded in classical liberal thought. Known for his classical liberal stance, Roberts frequently critiques Keynesian stimulus policies and advocates for limited government, personal responsibility, and rigorous skepticism of empirical claims that promise specific economic outcomes. His prolific contributions to scholarly journals, major newspapers, and public radio further cement his influence as a leading voice in contemporary economic discourse.