Karl Muth

Karl Muth is a commentator, economist, and legal academic.

His academic interests include the economics of governance, the portability of risk attitudes across domains, risk measurement and mitigation, and other topics. His thoughts on these issues have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The Journal of Private Equity to the Oprah Winfrey Show to the second edition of the academic text Controversies in Globalization.

Karl studied law in the Netherlands and in the United States and holds J.D. and M.B.A. degrees, the latter with a concentration in Economics from The University of Chicago. He earned his M.Phil./Ph.D. from the London School of Economics; his dissertation was entitled “Three Frameworks for Commodity-Producer Decision-Making Under Uncertainty.” Prior to his doctoral work, Karl was an Executive-in-Residence at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and he is currently a Lecturer in Economics, Law, Organizational Behavior, Public Policy, and Statistics at Northwestern University. He divides his time between the United States and Europe.

Post Archive

15 February 2024
Karl Muth asks what and who are urban 'green spaces' really for?  Some years ago, I walked amidst and upon the place of the very first golf course played according to modern rules…
08 February 2024
A mighty, autobahn-devouring Audi sits outside an invite-only energy discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, unwilling to discuss its 93-octane drinking problem. Inside…
25 July 2017
Karl Muth on the need to speak plainly when referring to lessons we still haven't learned from past clasics. I’ve heard more than a few friends and colleagues lament the remaking…
12 October 2016
Karl Muth argues that the croissant’s place in the French economy holds wider lessons for global manufacturers. Last week, I departed before dawn with French breakfast…
17 August 2016
Karl Muth explores the challenge of acknowledging the stubbornly slow pace of some global risks. Our political systems move quickly, as does our media cycle. The vote for Brexit…
08 August 2016
Karl Muth explains why basic incomes should transcend typical left right divides. It isn’t obvious to most of my colleagues and friends why, during the past ten years, I (and…
30 June 2016
Karl T. Muth observes that while those injured and killed by guns may grab headlines, gun violence is not moving markets. I wrote my masters degree in Chicago, a place where more…
22 June 2016
Prof. Karl T. Muth observes that while those injured and killed by guns may grab headlines, gun violence is not moving markets. I’m always, as someone who teaches economics…
08 June 2016
Karl Muth argues that both those voting to remain and those voting to ‘Brexit’ are likely to be disappointed once in the aftermath of the referendum. Last week, I…
30 March 2016
Karl Muth suggests we should ask why studying the economics of the developing world is generally the preserve of graduate students? This week, I undertake what has become an…
18 March 2016
Karl T. Muth explains WTL vs. proportional systems, and why “The Donald” will likely succeed in what is predominantly a winner-take-all system. Watching the…
15 February 2016
Karl T. Muth shares his thoughts on the radical next wave of fintech. Often, in the social sciences, we cannot measure the thing we’d be most interested in observing. For…
02 November 2015
Karl T. Muth calls out those that automatically lay the blame for today’s supposed ills at the feet of the youngest generation. Class warfare is in the news, and with good…
12 October 2015
Using the case of Uganda, Karl Muth argues that donors interested in developmental paths should focus on debilitating, yet addressable, macroeconomic factors. This week, I…
12 August 2015
Karl T. Muth explores how we should train people who need legal knowledge but do not intend to become lawyers. Each year, thousands of people graduate from programmes designed to…