Jeffrey David Sachs (born November 5, 1954, Oak Park, Michigan) is a notable American economist and public policy expert. He currently serves as a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University—a rank that reflects his distinguished academic standing. Previously, he directed Columbia's Earth Institute from 2002 to 2016 WikipediaUN Office for Partnerships.
He earned his BA, MA, and PhD in Economics from Harvard University, studying under advisor Martin Feldstein Wikipedia.
Sachs began his faculty career at Harvard, rapidly becoming a tenured professor, and later served as director of major development-focused institutes there Wikipedia.
Sachs is deeply involved in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He served as Special Adviser to UN Secretaries-General from Kofi Annan to António Guterres (2001–2018), and now leads the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network WikipediaUN Office for PartnershipsEncyclopedia Britannica.
He co-founded the Millennium Promise Alliance and directed the UN Millennium Project (2002–2006) focused on helping countries meet the MDGs WikipediaEncyclopedia Britannica.
Sachs launched the Millennium Villages Project, supporting sustainable development in rural African communities through integrated interventions in health, agriculture, and education WikipediaVanity FairCondé Nast Traveler. While ambitious, the project has drawn both praise and critical scrutiny over its methodology and impacts Wikipedia+1Vanity FairCondé Nast Traveler.
A bestselling author, his influential works include The End of Poverty, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet, The Price of Civilization, The Age of Sustainable Development, A New Foreign Policy, and The Ages of Globalization WikipediaEncyclopedia Britannica.
He also founded the World Happiness Report and regularly authors global commentary in Project Syndicate publications Wikipedia.
Named among Time's 100 Most Influential People and received high-profile honors including India's Padma Bhushan, the Blue Planet Prize, and the Tang Prize in Sustainable Development WikipediaEncyclopedia Britannicacdrf-en.cdrf.org.cnColumbia SPS.
Sachs has increasingly engaged in global geo-political discourse, expressing views on the Russia–Ukraine conflict, NATO, and international diplomacy—all of which have sparked debate WikipediaThe New Yorker.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as chair of The Lancet's COVID-19 Commission, exploring both natural and laboratory-origin hypotheses—drawing both attention and controversy WikipediaThe New Yorker.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Jeffrey David Sachs |
| Born | November 5, 1954, Oak Park, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | BA, MA, PhD in Economics (Harvard University) |
| Positions | Professor & Director at Columbia University; former Earth Institute Director |
| UN Roles | Special Adviser to multiple UN Secretaries-General; President of UN SDSN |
| Key Projects | Millennium Villages Project, UN Millennium Project, World Happiness Report |
| Publications | The End of Poverty, The Age of Sustainable Development, and more |
| Awards | Time's 100 Most Influential, Blue Planet Prize, Padma Bhushan, Tang Prize in SD |
| Contemporary Focus | Sustainability, global development, geopolitical commentary, pandemic analysis |
Jeffrey Sachs is a globally influential economist, committed to ending extreme poverty and advancing sustainable development, with a wide-ranging impact from policy design to thought leadership.