Laibson added that people do not often delay on these types of offers for long periods of time.
“Certainly there is a sense that you can’t hold on to these offers forever, but on the other hand there is no strict deadline,” Laibson said.
Chair of the economics department Alberto Alesina declined comment yesterday.
Laibson said he could not comment on whether or not Harvard was offering Mullainathan any added bonuses to accept the tenure offer.
“Those details are known only to Sendhil and the powers that be.”
Benjamin said that the addition of Mullainathan would undoubtedly strengthen an already stellar department.
“I think that it would make a big difference. He is the highest quality junior faculty member that you could hope for,” Benjamin said. “If he came to Harvard it would definitely be big news.”
—Staff writer Evan M. Vittor can be reached at evittor@fas.harvard.edu.