David Cutler

David Cutler holds the position of Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics at Harvard University, where his career in academia has been marked by numerous significant roles and achievements. After beginning his tenure at Harvard as an Assistant Professor of Economics in 1991, he advanced to become the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of Social Sciences in 1995, received tenure in 1997, and later served as Harvard College Professor from 2014 to 2019. His academic influence extends through his secondary appointments at the Kennedy School of Government and the School of Public Health. From 2003 to 2008, he was the associate dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for Social Sciences at Harvard.

Cutler's contributions to health economics and public economics have garnered him substantial recognition in both academic and public sectors. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the Clinton Administration by serving on both the Council of Economic Advisers and the National Economic Council. He has also been a key advisor in several presidential campaigns, including those of Bill Bradley, John Kerry, and Barack Obama, and notably served as a senior healthcare advisor during Obama's presidential campaign. Cutler's extensive advisory roles extend to healthcare companies and he is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a member of the Institute of Medicine, and a Fellow of the Employee Benefit Research Institute. He was instrumental in the development of Massachusetts' recent cost control legislation and is a member of the Health Policy Commission, which aims to reduce medical spending in the state.

As an author, Cutler has significantly contributed to the discussion on healthcare reform. His notable publications include "Your Money Or Your Life: Strong Medicine for America's Health Care System," which was featured in a New York Times Magazine article titled "The Quality Cure" by Roger Lowenstein. His follow-up book, "The Quality Cure," continues to explore these critical themes. His scholarly work and influence have been recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine, which named him one of the 30 people who could have a powerful impact on healthcare, and by Details magazine, which listed him as one of the 50 most influential men aged 45 and younger.

Cutler's educational background includes an AB from Harvard University earned in 1987 and a PhD in Economics from MIT in 1991, further grounding his extensive work in the economics of healthcare and public policy.