He received a BA in computer science, economics, and mathematics from Cornell University in 1993, and in 1998 earned a PhD in economics from Harvard University. His thesis developed a model of human memory used to understand biases in decision making and economic puzzles in consumption and asset pricing. His current research examines other interactions between psychology and economics, European unemployment, firms' personnel policies, corporate governance, gender discrimination, welfare to work transition, and the impact of family structure on child outcomes.