And he won tenure in one of the nation's best economics departments at the age of 29.
Scientists can now win tenure in several ways, including by simply succeeding their mentors.
In 1977, he struggled for six months before he won tenure at Berkeley.
He did, and the next year, at 55, he wrote a scholarly article on securities issues to help himself win tenure.
Now nights and weekends are devoted to research and writing as they struggle to win tenure.
To win tenure, junior faculty members strive to distinguish themselves through research as the best in their fields.
He made his name in academia by writing about a great range of subjects and won tenure at Harvard before turning 30.
This work won him tenure at the University.
He eventually won tenure, and several former faculty colleagues praised his intellectual capacity.
He moved over full-time to teaching in 1982 and won tenure as a full professor at the school in 1984.