Becker, Gary

Gary Becker was an influential American economist and Nobel laureate known for applying economic principles to a variety of social issues, such as education, family dynamics, and crime. He believed that people make rational choices based on costs and benefits, extending economic analysis beyond traditional markets. Becker's work emphasized how behaviors typically viewed as social or cultural, like marriage and parenting, can be understood through an economic lens, highlighting the importance of incentives. His innovative approach reshaped the fields of economics and sociology, demonstrating that economics can help explain everyday human behavior and social phenomena.