About The Department

News Archive

Items 1-10 out of 189 displayed.

		Alberto Abadie develops new econometric tools to study policy questions Professor of Economics Alberto Abadie uses his synthetic control method to study the effects of policy changes when a control group is otherwise not available. This methodology is typical of his approach to his work as an econometrician, creating new statistical models and methods with an eye on policy questions.

		Daron Acemoglu speaks on alleviating the impact of automation on displaced workers Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics Daron Acemoglu spoke on the impact of automation on human laborers at MIT Technology Review's EmTech Next conference on June 5, 2018. He demonstrated that automation has not improved wages or productivity in recent years because of the kinds of technology being developed, but are displacing workers. In order to offset the disruption that the technologies bring, he recommends that changes such as overhauling the education system be implemented to better prepare the workers of tomorrow.

		Featured Research: John Van Reenen studies the creation and use of technology Creating new technologies is one thing; using them well is another. This, over the last decade, has turned out to be a new vein of Van Reenen research. Along with several colleagues, including his former student, Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom, Van Reenen has closely scrutinized how firms use innovations, while driving toward a still-larger question: Does management matter?

		Amy Finkelstein elected to National Academy of Sciences John and Jennie S. MacDonald Professor of Economics Amy Finkelstein was elected to the National Academy of Sciences on May 1, 2018, in recognition of her distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. The National Academy of Sciences is a non-profit organization established by Congress to provide independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology.

		Featured Research: MIT economist Dave Donaldson explores how railroads helped India trade and grow Before 1870, India barely had railroads. It didn�t have many canals either, and only a small percentage of the population lived along the three main rivers. So when goods needed to be transported, people used steer, which could pull freight about 20 miles per day. But the British, India�s colonial rulers, started building rail lines, and then built some more. By 1930, there were more than 40,000 miles of railroads in India, and goods could be shipped about 400 miles a day. The result? As MIT economist David Donaldson shows in a newly published study on the economic impact of building infrastructure, railroads fostered commerce that raised real agricultural income by 16 percent. �It shows that in the places where the railroad arrived in India, living standards improved,� says Donaldson, a professor in MIT�s Department of Economics.

		Parag Pathak wins John Bates Clark Medal Jane Berkowitz Carlton and Dennis William Carlton Professor of Microeconomics Parag Pathak was announced as the John Bates Clark winner for 2018, and will be presented with the prize at the American Economic Association meeting in January 2019. The Clark Medal is awarded by the AEA annually to the American economist under the age of forty judged to have made the most significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge.

		Nancy Rose elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Charles P. Kindleberger Professor of Applied Economics and Department Head Nancy Rose was elected as a member to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on April 18, 2018. The Academy is one of the oldest honorary societies in the United States, and counts as its members some of the most accomplished scholars in a broad range of fields as well as leaders in business, public affairs, the humanities, and the arts.

		Parag Pathak elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Jane Berkowitz Carlton and Dennis William Carlton Professor of Microeconomics Parag Pathak was elected as a member to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on April 18, 2018. The Academy is one of the oldest honorary societies in the United States, and counts as its members some of the most accomplished scholars in a broad range of fields as well as leaders in business, public affairs, the humanities, and the arts.

		David Autor named a MacVicar Faculty Fellow The 2018 MacVicar Faculty fellows are: David Autor, the Ford Professor of Economics and associate head of the Department of Economics; Christopher Capozzola, an associate professor of history; Shankar Raman, a professor of literature; and Merritt Roe Smith, the Leverett and William Cutten Professor of the History of Technology in the Department of History and the Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS).

		David Autor leads MIT Work of the Future Task Force The MIT Task Force on the Work of the Future consists of a faculty and student research team of more than 20 members, as well as an external advisory board. The task force is an Institute-wide effort to understand and shape the evolution of jobs during an age of innovation.

<< Previous | [1-10] [11-20] [21-30] [31-40] [41-50] [51-60] [61-70] [71-80] [81-90] [91-100] [101-110] [111-120] [121-130] [131-140] [141-150] [151-160] [161-170] [171-180] [181-189] | Next >>