Gary Stanley Becker
- Born:
- December 2, 1930, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA
- Died:
- May 3, 2014, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Economist, Sociologist
Early Life and Education
- Received a B.A. in Mathematics from Princeton University in 1951.
- Earned an M.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago in 1953.
- Completed his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago in 1955.
Career and Major Achievements
- Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago (1954-1957).
- Professor of Economics at Columbia University (1957-1968).
- Returned to the University of Chicago in 1970, becoming University Professor of Economics and Sociology.
- Developed the concept of "human capital," arguing that investments in education and training are similar to investments in physical capital.
- Extended economic analysis to a wide range of social behaviors, including crime, discrimination, marriage, and addiction.
- Awarded the John Bates Clark Medal in 1967.
- Received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1992 "for having extended the domain of microeconomic analysis to a wide range of human behaviour and interaction, including nonmarket behaviour".
Notable Works
- The Economics of Discrimination (1957)
- Human Capital (1964)
- Economic Theory (1971)
- A Treatise on the Family (1981)
- Accounting for Tastes (1996)
Many have searched extensively to discover ways to perform a 'gary becker books download,' but the most ethical and appropriate avenue is always through legal purchase or library access. His work had a significant impact on the field of economics, extending its reach to previously unexplored areas of human behavior.
Legacy and Impact
- Pioneered the application of economic principles to social issues.
- Significantly influenced fields such as sociology, criminology, and family studies.
- His work continues to be widely cited and debated in academic circles.
- Mentored numerous prominent economists.