Goldin Nobel Prize 2023 — Nobel Prize Outreach, Clément Morin

Claudia Goldin Awarded 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics

Claudia Goldin, Member (1982–83) in the School of Social Science, was honored with the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences cited Goldin’s achievement in providing “the first comprehensive account of women’s earnings and labour market participation through the centuries.” Her work spans 200 years of U.S. data and demonstrates that women’s labor history is not linear—instead, Goldin identifies a U-shaped curve, attributed to structural change and evolving social norms.

Goldin is the third woman to receive the economics prize since its inauguration in 1969 and the first female solo winner of the prize. As an economic historian, she was also the first woman to join the economics department at Harvard University, where she teaches today.

“It certainly means a tremendous amount,” remarked Goldin in an interview with Adam Smith from Nobelprize.org. “It also means a lot because it’s an award for big ideas and for long-term change.”

Among present and past IAS Faculty and Members, there have been 36 Nobel laureates, including Eric S. Maskin, Professor (2000–11) and Visitor (2012) in the School of Social Science, who received the 2007 economics prize while part of the IAS Faculty. Joseph E. Stiglitz, Visitor (1978–79) in the School of Natural Sciences; John Forbes Nash, frequent Member in the School of Mathematics; and John Richard Nicholas Stone, Member (1945) in School of Economics and Politics, were also prior economics prize laureates.