News

Nemat Shafik - UMass Economics '83 Named First Female President of Columbia University

Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, a leading economist whose career has focused on public policy and academia, will become the 20th president of Columbia University on July 1, 2023. Her election concludes a wide-ranging and intensive search launched after Lee C. Bollinger announced that he would step down as Columbia’s president at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year. Beyond her tenure as the president of the London School of Economics (where she was also the first female president), Shafik has served as the vice president of the World Bank, becoming the youngest person to hold the title, and the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. Read more...

In Memoriam - James Crotty and Herbert Gintis

UMass recently lost two faculty members who definitively shaped the character of the Department of Economics over decades through their path-breaking research and teaching: James (Jim) Crotty and Herbert (Herb) Gintis. Through the years, Jim and Herb had an indelible positive impact on the lives of many at UMass and around the world – students, colleagues, and the UMass Economics family. Their ideas, vision, and enthusiasm will live on and continue to influence future generations of thinkers who recognize the need to challenge the status quo.  Read more here about Jim and Herb.

Isabella Weber named to the Bloomberg Businessweek's 50 “Ones to Watch” list for 2022

Isabella Weber, has been named to the Bloomberg 50 “Ones to Watch” list for 2022 by the editors of Bloomberg Businessweek. The list will be published in the December 26 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg Businessweek’s Bloomberg 50 is an annual list of innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who have changed the global business landscape over the past year. An unranked list, the Bloomberg 50 represents the most influential thought leaders in business, finance, politics, entertainment, science and technology whose 2022 accomplishments were particularly noteworthy.  Read more...

Gerald Friedman featured in WalletHub: "States Where Employers Are Struggling the Most in Hiring"

Professor Gerald Friedman featured WalletHub's recent article abiut hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans lost their jobs and experienced financial difficulties due to unemployment. Now, for many employers, the shoe is on the other foot. Lots of businesses are struggling to hire enough workers, which has sometimes led to delays in services and reduced business hours. In fact, the labor force participation rate is still below pre-pandemic levels, and is at one of the lowest points in decades. Some businesses aren’t even able to keep the employees they already have – as Americans are quitting their jobs at record rates in what’s been dubbed the “Great Resignation.”. Read more ...

November Department News

 
James Boyce
 
Marta Vicarelli
 
Robert Pollin
 
Ina Ganguli
 
Isabella Weber
 
Arindrajit Dube
 

 

Marta Vicarelli Discusses Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction During U.N. Webinar

Marta Vicarelli, assistant professor of economics and public policy, recently presented research on Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) during a global webinar hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Over the last three years, UNEP, in partnership with the Partners for Resilience, has developed and demonstrated Eco-DRR models in Ethiopia, Uganda, Haiti, India and Indonesia. Vicarelli joined representatives from the U.N., the Red Cross and Wetlands International for the webinar – held on International DRR Day, Oct. 13 – to share results, scalable features and knowledge gained from Eco-DRR models implemented in these countries and present cost-benefit analyses of the field projects  Read more...

October Department News

 

Nicholas McCurrach
Named one of the inaugural 100 recipients of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, administered by the Obama Foundation

New Book by Jayati Ghosh
"The Making of a Catastrophe: The Disastrous Economic Fallout of the Covid-19 Pandemic in India"

Gerald Epstein and Robert Pollin
Object to Recent Indian Supreme Court Rulings

A Life in Development Economics & Political Economy
An interview with Jayati Ghosh

Why 'Economic Policy' is Code for Class Warfare
Richard Wolff, professor emeritus of economics, has written an op-ed on the duality of "economic policy" debate among politicians, economists, and the media

Does Recent Graduate Data Affect PhD Career Planning?
Ina Ganguli, economics and associate director of the Computational Social Science Institute, recently published a study exploring how recent graduate employment data effects career planning among chemistry PhDs.

Isabella Weber Testifies Before House Committee
Isabella Weber, economics, before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform during a hearing about severe weather events induced by climate change.

Gerald Epstein Appears on MassAppeal
Gerald Epstein, economics, recently appeared on MassAppeal to discuss the latest news on gas prices and inflation.

Richard Wolff, Professor Emeritus of Economics
Brookings Institute on the economic impact of COVID.

Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, professors emeritus of economics, have been named Citation Laureates by Clarivate Plc
They are among a group of 20 researchers whose work was selected for broadening our understanding of economic behavior beyond that which focuses on self-interest.

Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute
Recently interviewed on theAnalysis.news podcast. Pollin discussed the Federal Reserve, unemployment rates, and the bargaining power of U.S. workers.

 

Economics major, Nicholas McCurrach, named one of the inaugural 100 recipients of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, administered by the Obama Foundation

Economics and Political Science major Nicholas McCurrach has been named one of the inaugural 100 recipients of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, administered by the Obama Foundation. The Voyager Scholarship was created by former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama and Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, to help shape young leaders who can bridge divides and help solve our biggest challenges together. Even though they come from different backgrounds, both the President and Chesky believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy and cooperation, which equips the next generation to create meaningful change. Read more...

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