With Herbert Gintis he is studying the structure of labor and captial markets, the organization of work, and the evolution of norms and preferences.
Bowles currently teaches courses in microeconomics and the theory of institutions.
He has recently served as a member of South Africa's Commission on the Labour Market appointed by President Mandela to design policies to overcome the legacy of apartheid. He is a research associate of the Santa Fe Institute and co-head of the research network on the effects of inequality on economic performance, and a member of the norms and preferences network.