Zachary Liscow

Professor of Law
Education

J.D., Yale Law School, 2015

Ph.D. (Economics), University of California, Berkeley, 2012

A.B., Harvard University, 2005

Curriculum Vitae
Courses Taught
  • Taxation
  • Taxation, the Law, and Economic Inequality
  • Inequality: Economic and Tax Policy
  • Supervised Research: Economic and Tax Policy
Zachary Liscow

Zachary Liscow is Professor of Law at Yale Law School. In 2022–23, he was the Chief Economist at the Office of Management and Budget at the White House. His wide-ranging work in law and economics currently covers tax policy, benefit-cost analysis, and infrastructure construction costs. He is particularly interested in developing cost-effective policies to address inequality and understanding what drives the high costs of building U.S. infrastructure. He has also worked in a variety of other areas, including environmental policy and empirical legal studies. Liscow's work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Atlantic, Bloomberg, CNN, and elsewhere. 

Liscow earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. from Yale Law School. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College with degrees in Economics and in Environmental Science and Public Policy. He grew up in South Haven, Michigan. In 2009–2010, he was a Staff Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. He also worked for the World Bank's inspector general. Liscow clerked for the Honorable Stephen F. Williams on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

News

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The New York Times

Here’s the Easy Way To Tax the Rich — A Commentary by Zachary Liscow ’15

Zachary Liscow ’15 is professor of law at Yale Law School.

Here’s the Easy Way To Tax the Rich — A Commentary by Zachary Liscow ’15
Zachary Liscow and David Schleicher

ISPS Establishes Government Effectiveness Working Group at Yale

Yale’s Institution for Social and Policy Studies announced the launch of the Government Effectiveness Working Group. This new collaboration will gather scholars from across social sciences and law to study how institutions can be designed and reformed to work more effectively for citizens. It will be co-led by Yale Law School professors Zachary Liscow ’15 and David Schleicher, along with Associate Professor of Political Science Joshua Kalla.
ISPS Establishes Government Effectiveness Working Group at Yale
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The Morning Dispatch Newsletter / The Dispatch

Why Can’t America Build Trains?

Professor of Law Zachary Liscow ’15 discussed infrastructure project contracts.

Why Can’t America Build Trains?
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The Argument

Democrats Should Fire Bad Teachers and Bad Cops

A journal article about transportation project costs co-authored by Professor of Law Zachary Liscow ’15 was cited.

Democrats Should Fire Bad Teachers and Bad Cops
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Vital City

Good Government, Beyond the Couch Cushions

A study co-authored by Professor of Law Zachary Liscow ’15 about the costs of transportation contracting was featured.

Good Government, Beyond the Couch Cushions
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L’Espresso (Italy)

I Miliardari Americani Non Evadono Perché Le Regole Sono Scritte per Loro

Professor of Law Zachary Liscow ’15 discussed American income tax rates and infrastructure. This interview is in Italian.

I Miliardari Americani Non Evadono Perché Le Regole Sono Scritte per Loro
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WPRI

Worst Roads, High Costs: Why RIDOT Struggles With Paving Despite $1 Billion Transportation Budget

Professor of Law Zachary Liscow ’15 discussed a study he co-authored on federal infrastructure budgets.

Worst Roads, High Costs: Why RIDOT Struggles With Paving Despite $1 Billion Transportation Budget
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SF Chronicle

Here’s How Economists Say California Could Tax Billionaires — Without Losing Them to Texas

Professor of Law Zachary Liscow ’15 discussed a paper he co-authored about borrowing practices and the proposed California wealth tax.

Here’s How Economists Say California Could Tax Billionaires — Without Losing Them to Texas
Professor Zachary Liscow ’15 during the Law of Abundance Conference

The Next Phase of Abundance Will Depend on Deeper Evidence across Policy Domains

A recent Yale panel featuring Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias highlighted how building a research foundation now will determine whether ideas translate into action later.
The Next Phase of Abundance Will Depend on Deeper Evidence across Policy Domains
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The Economist

How Governments Are Increasingly Soaking the Rich

A paper co-authored by Professor of Law Zachary Liscow ’15 analyzing effective income tax rates was cited.

How Governments Are Increasingly Soaking the Rich

Works in Progress

 

 

Published and Forthcoming Papers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Popular Writing