The University of Southern California remembers Richard Ainley Easterlin, University Professor Emeritus and a foundational figure in the fields of economics, demography, and economic history. Professor Easterlin passed away on December 16, 2024, at his home in Pasadena, California, at the age of 98.
A legacy of revolutionary ideas, Professor Easterlin is recognized foremost for the Easterlin Paradox, a landmark finding first published in 1974, which is often credited for launching the field of happiness economics. The Paradox identified a startling contradiction: while wealthier countries tend to be happier than poorer ones at a given point in time, a country’s happiness does not grow in correspondence with long-run GDP per capita growth. The Paradox was initially difficult to publish – for using happiness data and challenging economic theory that GDP growth drives well-being. Yet, its popularity has grown tremendously since, affecting general, scientific, and policy debates, including UN General Assembly resolutions and OECD measurement frameworks.
In addition to the Paradox, he developed the Easterlin Hypothesis, which explores how the size of a birth cohort relative to its parents’ generation influences economic opportunities and social behaviors, such as fertility, education, and employment.
His work was characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, drawing insights from psychology, sociology, and demography, leading him to describe himself as a “reluctant economist” who prioritized empirical facts over adherence to rigid theory.
Professor Easterlin became an instructor in 1948 while conducting his doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School (Penn). After serving as a faculty member and department chair for over 30 years, he left Penn to join USC in 1982. During his tenure at USC, he was a dedicated educator and celebrated researcher, winning teaching awards and the Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Even after his official retirement in 2018 at the age of 92, he remained active in research, driven by curiosity and a desire to make people’s lives better.
Professor Easterlin’s contributions were recognized at the highest levels of academia. He was an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Clarivate Citations Laureate, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association. He served as president of the Population Association of America, the American Economic History Association, and the Western Economic Association International. His numerous accolades included the IZA Prize in Labor Economics and honorary doctorates from Northwestern University and Lund University.
As a fellow faculty member and mentor, Professor Easterlin commanded a great deal of respect, but at the same time was approachable and open to different points of view. He was also genial and fostered the success of his students, often hosting lunches where academic topics were avoided in favor of building community and supporting their personal well-being.
Born on January 12, 1926, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, Easterlin initially trained as a mechanical engineer, before earning a Ph.D. in economics under Nobel Laureate Simon Kuznets at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Professor Easterlin is survived by his wife, Eileen Crimmins (University Professor and AARP Professor of Gerontology at USC); his children, Dan, Nancy, Sue, Andy, Matt, and Molly; and nine grandchildren.
His legacy will live on through the countless students and colleagues whose lives he touched. See also his many books, which summarize much of his academic work. The book An Economist’s Lessons on Happiness: Farewell Dismal Science! was based on his undergraduate course.
For additional references see, the National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir, or obituaries with USC Dornsife, Universtiy of Pennsylvania, Journal of Happiness Studies, or the New York Times.