Northwestern Celebrates Joel Horowitz’s Contributions to Econometrics

May 9, 2025 - Northwestern University Department of Economics

Northwestern University recently hosted a conference in honor of Professor Joel Horowitz, recognizing his profound impact on the field of econometrics. The event was jointly sponsored by the Center for Econometrics and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and brought together former and current colleagues, students, and collaborators to celebrate his scholarly legacy.

 Professor Horowitz has made foundational contributions across several key areas of econometric theory, including nonparametric and semiparametric estimation, specification testing, and bootstrap methods. His landmark paper on the smoothed maximum score estimator, published in Econometrica, marked an early breakthrough. His pioneering work in nonparametric instrumental variables estimation has also helped shape modern empirical research in economics. Over the years, Professor Horowitz’s research has been featured in top-tier journals such as Econometrica, The Annals of Statistics, and The Journal of the American Statistical Association. The conference provided a fitting occasion to reflect on the lasting influence of his work and to celebrate his continued contributions to the field.