Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman (born March 5, 1934) is an Israeli-American psychologist and economist who won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2002 for his groundbreaking research on decision-making and behavioral economics. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Kahneman studied at Hebrew University and earned his doctorate before establishing himself as a leading experimental psychologist. Along with his long-time collaborator Amos Tversky, Kahneman conducted revolutionary research demonstrating that human decision-making deviates systematically from the assumptions of rational economic theory. His work identified cognitive biases and mental shortcuts (heuristics) that influence how people make judgments and decisions under uncertainty, upending classical economics' assumption of human rationality. Concepts like "anchoring," "availability bias," and "loss aversion" from their research became foundational to behavioral economics. Kahneman's 2011 book Thinking, Fast and Slow synthesized decades of research into an accessible account of cognitive psychology that became an international bestseller, introducing academic concepts to general audiences. His research has influenced not only economics and psychology but also policy-making, marketing, and organizational behavior worldwide. Beyond academia, Kahneman served as professor at Princeton University and has been a visiting lecturer at numerous institutions, cementing his influence as one of the most cited and influential scientists of the 21st century.