Available to book
Judd Kessler
Economics
Social Mobility
Decision Making
Judd Kessler, Wharton professor and behavioral economics speaker, reveals hidden market systems that control access to jobs, healthcare, and scarce resources. Author of Lucky by Design, Judd equips organizations with strategies to navigate invisible allocation systems shaping careers and competitive advantage.
Economist
Judd Kessler studies how life's most valuable resources are allocated through systems that operate outside traditional economics, a field he calls "hidden markets." A professor at the Wharton School, Kessler authored Lucky by Design, which Lin-Manuel Miranda called "that rarest of things: an economics page-turner." His research has reshaped how economists and policymakers think about resource allocation in everyday life. Judd's work reveals the invisible systems that determine who gets good jobs, daycare slots, medical care, concert tickets, and restaurant reservations. These resources don't go to the highest bidder. They follow rules most people never notice. By making these patterns visible, Judd gives audiences practical tools to navigate systems that shape their careers, health, and daily lives. Audiences leave Judd's talks with a new lens for spotting hidden markets in their own industries, concrete strategies for positioning themselves within allocation systems they previously couldn't see, and a clearer understanding of why some people consistently access scarce resources while others don't. Book Judd Kessler to give your audience an unfair advantage in the systems that quietly run their lives.
Judd Kessler decodes the allocation systems that determine who actually gets scarce resources in your industry, from talent acquisition to client access. His Wharton research gives teams a structural advantage in markets where traditional pricing doesn't apply, turning invisible patterns into actionable positioning strategy.
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frequently asked questions
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Email judd.kessler@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Judd's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Judd Kessler structures his talks around the concept of "hidden markets" — allocation systems that operate outside traditional price mechanisms — drawing on his academic research at the Wharton School to make these invisible patterns visible to audiences, then translating them into concrete strategies for navigating systems governing access to jobs, healthcare, and other scarce resources.
Judd Kessler speaks on hidden markets, resource allocation, and the systems governing access to scarce goods such as jobs, healthcare, and housing. He is a professor at the Wharton School and author of Lucky by Design, endorsed by Lin-Manuel Miranda as "that rarest of things: an economics page-turner."
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