Tyler Cowen
“The man who wants to know everything.”
– The Economist
New: The Marginal Revolution: Rise and Decline, and the Pending AI Revolution →
About Tyler
Tyler Cowen wants to teach economics to more people than anyone else in the history of the world—and he might just succeed. In addition to his regular teaching at George Mason University, Tyler has blogged every day at Marginal Revolution since 2003, helping to make it one of the most widely read economics blogs in the world. He’s the bestselling author of nearly twenty books and has been a regular columnist at the New York Times, Bloomberg, and now The Free Press. On Twitter/X, he’s @tylercowen.
As the faculty director of the Mercatus Center, Tyler co-created Marginal Revolution University, a free online economics education platform that’s reached millions. He hosts the popular Conversations with Tyler podcast, where he examines the work and worldviews of thinkers like Paul Graham, Rick Rubin, Martina Navratilova, and many more. He also founded Emergent Ventures, a multi-million dollar fund to support underrated people and projects.
Scroll on for a full list of Tyler’s outputs.
Full bio →
Generative Books
Tyler’s generative books reimagine what books are for. Every word in the text is Tyler’s and can be read in the traditional way, but you’re encouraged to use AI as a means to absorb the ideas in the text, understand their deeper context, and follow your curiosity wherever it leads. They’re also completely free!
The Marginal Revolution: Rise and Decline, and the Pending AI Revolution →
Part intellectual history, part provocation, Tyler traces how marginalism conquered economics, why it’s now in retreat, and what replaces it when AI can see around corners humans can’t.
GOAT: Who is the Greatest Economist of all Time and Why Does it Matter? →
Inspired by Bill Simmons’ epic The Book of Basketball, Tyler translates a lifelong passion for economics into an entertaining and erudite analysis of who deserves to be on the Mount Rushmore of great economists.
other Books
Across nearly twenty books, Tyler has diagnosed America’s hidden growth crisis (The Great Stagnation), its comfortable decline (The Complacent Class), and the coming bifurcation of its workforce (Average Is Over). He’s argued that economic growth is a moral obligation (Stubborn Attachments), defended big business from its detractors, and with Daniel Gross built a guide for identifying exceptional people (Talent). Along the way, he has applied the logic of incentives to restaurants, art markets, globalization, and fame.
Online Writing
Marginal Revolution →
Co-founded by Tyler and Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution is one of the most influential economics blogs in the world. Tyler has posted every day since 2003.
Tyler Cowen’s Ethnic Dining Guide →
A catalog of Tyler’s favorite eats in the DC area. Remember: “all food is ethnic food.”
The Free Press →
Tyler’s column brings an economist’s lens to questions about culture, technology, and public policy. He previously wrote for Bloomberg Opinion and The New York Times.
Podcasts
Conversations with Tyler→
Less a conversation than mental parkour, Tyler’s podcast features, in the words of one fan, “smart people answering thoughtful questions they’ve never been asked before.”
The Marginal Revolution Podcast →
Tyler and co-blogger Alex Tabarrok tackle whatever economic notion is currently tickling their noggins, from the new monetary economics to the return of tariffs.
Projects
Emergent Ventures→
Tyler awards grants to thinkers and doers around the world, with dedicated support available for projects with a focus on India, Africa and the Caribbean, or Ukraine. A running list of Emergent Ventures winners can be found on Marginal Revolution.
Marginal Revolution University→
Founded in 2012 by Tyler and Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution University offers the world’s best library of free content for anyone learning or teaching economics. More than 7,500 US high school econ teachers use MRU’s library of 1,000+ videos, 60+ days of lesson plans, and dozens of interactive tutorials.
About the Mercatus Center
Since 1980, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has identified and cultivated scholars who pursue serious intellectual work with a focus on real-world influence. Tyler was among the first few scholars Mercatus ever supported. He now serves as its faculty director.