Stanford University’s Isaac Sorkin has been recognized with the 2026 Sherwin Rosen Prize by the Society of Labor Economics.

This prestigious award recognizes Sorkin’s significant contributions to the field of labor economics, particularly his innovative research on worker mobility, firm amenities, and labor market inequality.

Sorkin, who earned his B.A. from Swarthmore College and both M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, has been recognized as one of the leading labor economists of his generation. His pivotal work titled “Ranking Firms Using Revealed Preference” published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics in 2018, has reshaped understanding of wage variations among firms. The study utilizes extensive matched employer-employee data to construct a firm-level ranking based on worker mobility insights, challenging conventional views that wage differentials largely reflect pay premia.

His ongoing research further extends to various facets of labor economics, including market structure, minimum wage impacts, and application of econometric strategies. Sorkin’s work stands out for its methodological contributions that combine theoretical insights with empirical analysis, significantly altering perceptions within the field.

With a commitment to advancing the understanding of labor dynamics, Sorkin’s scholarship not only exemplifies excellence but also underscores the importance of empirical design in economic research, establishing him as a distinguished voice in his domain.

The Sherwin Rosen Prize celebrates scholars who demonstrate exceptional originality and influence in labor economics. Previous winners include Daron Acemoglu (2004), who later went on to win a Nobel prize, and Raj Chetty (2016), who has won the Clark Medal and multiple other recognitions in the field.