He has also held teaching positions at Harvard, Yale University and, since 1999, Princeton where he spent the longest portion of his career.

Sims has published numerous important papers in his areas of research: econometrics and macroeconomic theory and policy.

[13] Sims has been an outspoken opponent of the rational expectations revolution in macroeconomics, arguing that it should be thought of as a "cautionary footnote" to econometric policy analysis, rather than "a deep objection to its foundations.

On October 10, 2011, Christopher A. Sims together with Thomas J. Sargent was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

[16] His Nobel lecture, titled "Statistical Modeling of Monetary Policy and its Effects" was delivered on December 8, 2011.

[17][18] Translating his work into everyday language, Sims said it provided a technique to assess the direction of causality in central bank monetary policy.