The Becker-Friedman Institute for Research in Economics

“Ideological Segregation Online and Offline”
April 19, 2012

Jesse M. Shapiro, Professor of Economics at the Chicago Booth School of Business, gave the last talk in this series.

About the series

The Becker Brown Bag Series was created to provide an informal setting in which prominent economists can present cutting-edge research and engage MBA students in discussion. The talks highlight the practical use of economics for answering real-world questions pertinent to businesses and policy makers.

While the Becker Brown Bag Series is directed towards current MBA students, alumni, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. Brown Bags occur one to two times per quarter, with most events being held at Chicago Booth's Charles M. Harper Center.

See the Brown Bag Archives »

Upcoming lectures:

May 16, 2012
Gary Becker

Past lectures

“A Conversation with Austan Goolsbee”
February 16, 2012

Austan D. Goolsbee, the Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics, returned to his faculty position at Chicago Booth after serving on the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama. Guided by questions from his colleague Steven Levitt, Goolsbee gave an honest and entertaining account of life in Washington's policy circles and provided a few bits of career advice in the latest talk in this series.

“The Fiscal Situation, Economic Recovery, and the Labor Market”
Oct. 11, 2011
Edward Lazear
Lazear, the Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics at Stanford Graduate School of Business and chair of the Becker Friedman Institute Board of Overseers, discussed the causes of and response to the 2007-08 financial crisis. He shared his experiences dealing with the crisis as chair of the the President's Council of Economic Advisers during  this period, highlighting what actions helped, hurt, and had little impact.

Too Many Choices, Too Much Information?
Nov. 10, 2011
Emir Kamenica, Associate Professor of Economics, Chicago Booth School of Business
How many different varieties should a firm offer to its customers? How much information should it provide about the customers' fit with its products? Kamenica will examine the implications of economic theory for these questions and finds that the answers can be counterintuitive: consumers might be better off when they are offered fewer products and a firm might find it profitable to keep consumers in (partial) dark about how well its product match the consumers' needs.