Judd Kessler, Ph.D., and Corinne Low, Ph.D. — Lucky by Design

Video Description

“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” Seneca, the ancient Roman philosopher, once said. For many of us, luck feels like pure chance—the result of outcomes blindly doled out by the universe. A coworker scores coveted World Series tickets; a friend finds the love of their life on Tinder; a neighbor’s child gets into the best preschool in town. But what if Seneca was right—and luck is more than chance? What if there are hidden markets all around us—ones we navigate every day in work, education, and life—that dictate who gets what? And what if it’s possible to learn how to sway the odds in our favor? According to Wharton economist and market designer Judd Kessler, Ph.D., we do have the power to make our own luck. In "Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want," Kessler pulls back the curtain on the hidden markets we routinely encounter, explaining the rules by which they operate and how to make choices that lead to better outcomes. In familiar markets—such as the stock market or your local farmer’s market—what we get depends on how much we’re willing to pay. Hidden markets don’t rely on prices; instead, they follow a different set of rules, and you can’t simply buy your way into a better position. Kessler shows that the world doesn’t have to work this way. By revealing how hidden markets function and where we go wrong, he offers practical insight into making smarter choices when money, merit, and timing aren’t what determine the outcome. Kessler is the inaugural Howard Marks Endowed Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. His research and writing have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Scientific American, Harvard Business Review, Politico, NPR, Hidden Brain, Freakonomics, and more. Kessler will be in conversation with Corinne Low, Ph.D. (FAN ’25), associate professor of business economics and public policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Low is the author of the 2025 book "Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours."