In 2003, he obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from Koç University[2] after which, he pursued his doctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

This research group runs as a lab, using large-scale firm and individual level micro datasets to uncover how talent allocation, human capital, industrial policies, competitive landscape, academia, and institutions influence economic growth through innovation and ideas.

[5] In 2022, he received the Global Economy Prize in Economics from the Kiel Institute in Germany and the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Award.

[8] As part of his contributions to the concept of creative destruction, Akcigit examines inventors themselves to uncover their incentives to innovate and their effect on society.

In this research, he investigates the factors determining who becomes an inventor and uncovers that IQ, education and parental background are key ingredients.

He uses large scale datasets such as social security records, firm balance sheets and patent microdata to advance his research.

Building on the work of Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, the book explores how innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological progress drive the renewal of industries, displacing outdated models and fostering economic growth.

Featuring contributions from economists, it delves into the mechanics of how creative destruction shapes markets, firms, and broader economic systems.

The book also critically assesses the impact of innovation on employment, productivity, and societal well-being, offering insights into how economies adapt to and benefit from transformative change.