PhD in Economics at Harvard University (HU), Bowles heads the Behavioural Sciences Program at the Santa Fe Institute. His studies on cultural and genetic evolution have challenged the conventional economic assumption that people are motivated entirely by self-interest. Recent papers have also explored how organizations, communities and nations could be better governed in light of the fact that altruistic and ethical motives are common in most populations.

He did theoretical and empirical studies of political hierarchy and wealth inequality and their evolution over the very long run. With the CORE project he has provided a new open access introduction to economics. His most recent book is The Moral Economy: Why good incentives are no substitute for good citizens (2016).