Samuel S. Kortum, born in December 1960, is an American economist currently serving as the James Burrows Moffatt Professor of Economics at Yale University. His research primarily focuses on international trade and industrial organization.

Kortum earned his BA from Wesleyan University in 1983 before pursuing further studies at Yale University, where he received his Ph.D. in economics in 1992.

His academic career began as an assistant professor at Boston University.