The London School of Economics has awarded Professor Paul Dolan the prestigious Aristotelis Mistakidis Chair in Behavioural Science, funded by a generous gift from LSE alumnus Aristotelis Mistakidis. Dolan is recognized for his influential research on wellbeing and decision-making.

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On September 22, 2026, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) announced the appointment of Professor Paul Dolan from the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science as the inaugural Aristotelis Mistakidis Chair in Behavioural Science. This position was made possible through a significant philanthropic contribution from LSE alumnus Aristotelis Mistakidis, who graduated in 1984 with a BSc in Econ - International Relations.

Professor Dolan is a prominent behavioural scientist with over thirty years of experience researching the factors affecting individual wellbeing and decision-making. His research aims to utilize insights from behavioural science to enhance life quality and inform effective policy making. His best-selling books, including Happiness by Design _{^{(affiliate link)}} and Happy Ever After _{^{(affiliate link)}}, have garnered significant attention, with his latest work, Beliefism: How to Stop Hating the People We Disagree With _{^{(affiliate link)}}, published in 2025. Dolan also hosts the Breaking Beliefism podcast.

In a statement regarding his new position, Dolan remarked, “I was LSE's first Professor of Behavioural Science and it is a great honour to be afforded this new title, which reflects how far the discipline has come at the School.”

Aristotelis Mistakidis expressed his congratulations to Dolan, emphasising the importance of exploring human behaviour to bridge societal divides and foster a healthier path forward. Professor Alex Gillespie, Head of the Department, noted the significant impact of Dolan’s research on policy and practice, especially with the support from Mistakidis that enables pioneering research.

LSE President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Larry Kramer, welcomed Mr. Mistakidis during his visit to the campus last week, marking the establishment of the new academic chair.

Paul Dolan received his doctorate from the University of York in 1997 and won a Leverhulme Prize for Health Economics in 2002. Soon after he focused his attention on the Economics of Happiness, working with Danny Kahneman at Princeton in 2004-2005, and after a period at Imperial College London, he joined Richard Layard at LSE, where he has worked since 2010 and where he founded a new Department for Psychological and Behavioural Science.

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Read the full press release: lse.ac.uk

Find out more about Paul Dolan on his personal website.

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