Alan Krueger, 58; economist advised Obama, Clinton

Alan Krueger, a labor economist who advised two presidents and drew on empirical research, rather than abstract theories, to generate surprising insights into the impact of minimum wage increases, the origins of terrorists and the rising price of concert tickets, has died. He was 58.

He died by suicide over the weekend, according to a statement released Monday by his family. The family did not provide additional information.

Krueger was a professor of political economy at Princeton University, where he had taught since 1987, taking the occasional leave of absence to work for the federal government.

He served for one year under President Bill Clinton as the Labor Department’s chief economist, and he was an assistant treasury secretary from 2009 to 2010 during President Barack Obama’s administration. In the wake of the global financial crisis, he tried to boost the economy through stimulus measures such as a credit fund for small businesses and the “cash for clunkers” program, which offered rebates for new-car buyers.

After being named chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers in 2011, he said he received a helpful tip from one of his predecessors in that job: Edward Lazear, who advised him to stay in his own “lane” and avoid bumping up against national-security or foreign-affairs officials.

“For the most part,” Krueger said, “I followed Lazear’s advice.”