In a talk on Tuesday, Nov. 4, Wharton economist Judd Kessler will pull back the curtain on the hidden markets that determine who gets what in everyday life. Author of “Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want,” Kessler will speak at 4:30 p.m. in Lewis Auditorium in Goldwin Smith Hall. 

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He will offer insights about how these markets work, how to maneuver in them and how to tip the scales in your favor.

According to Kessler, getting reservations at the hottest restaurants, receiving job offers, scoring spots in elite preschools and selective college, finding a soulmate on a dating app, or receiving a life-saving organ transplant are not matters of luck. But they also don’t rely on prices, unlike the familiar markets discussed in economics courses.

“In these types of hidden markets, what you get depends on the choices you make and the rules the market operates on,” said Ted O’Donoghue, Zubrow Professor of Economics in the College of Arts & Sciences and co-organizer of the event. “We’re fortunate to have Judd Kessler here to share his unique perspectives in maneuvering through such markets.”

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.