The Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics

News from the Institute

Predicting Systemic Risk a Huge Challenge, Panel Says

Lars Peter Hansen, Luigi Zingales, and Tom Sargent spoke on the policy and regulatory climate for the financial industry May 1.
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Finkelstein Wins 2012 Clark Medal

Amy Finkelstein of MIT, a 2011 Visiting Fellow at the Institute, won the award given to the economist under 40 who has made the most significant contributions.

Uhlig’s Research Highlights the Limits of Taxation

Harald Uhlig’s research with Mathias Trabandt of the Federal Reserve comparing the Laffer curves of the US and 14 European nations was highlighted in a recent Forbes article.

Coase publishes book, new journal

At 101, Ronald Coase has a new book on capitalism in China and is developing a journal called Man and the Economy.

Watch London Panel Discussion on the Macroeconomy

The Institute took its expertise abroad, with a panel discussion in London that explored the interplay between financial markets and the macroeconomy. Video available here »

Cochrane Argues for Markets, Not Mandates

In the Wall Street Journal, Professor John Cochrane made the case for deregulated, competitive markets in individual catastrophic insurance and health care.

Sargent Offers Fiscal History Lesson

In a Wall Street Journal piece, Distinguished Fellow Thomas J. Sargent says Europe might learn from America's early fiscal crisis and bailouts.

Heckman Speaks at White House Early Education Announcement

Professor James J. Heckman spoke of empirically proven economic and social gains from quality early childhood education and care at a ceremony announcing Early Learning Challenge Grants.
Read remarks » (.pdf)

Lazear Calls for Structural Reform in Europe

The domino model is the wrong way to view the European debt crisis, Edward Lazear argues. He sees it as a "popcorn model," where we need to address the hot oil that many countries find themselves in.

Job Loss Felt on Income for 20 Years

Income remains lower for years after losing a job, and the impact is worse if the job loss occurs in a recession, according to an analysis by Chicago Booth's Steve Davis
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Becker Comments on Great Recession

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Gary Becker points to government policies that contributed to the recession.

New Fogel Book Makes the Case for ‘Technophysio Evolution’

Decades of research documents linkages between body size and social and economic change.

Shapiro's Gas Price Study Shows Evidence of Mental Accounting

Customers switch to lower grades when gas prices rise, but do not choose cheaper orange juice, showing that gas money is not fungible.

Sargent Wins CME Group-MSRI Prize

Distinguished Visitor Thomas J. Sargent of NYU received the prize for innovative quantitative applications on Sept. 26.

Luncheon Marks Coase's 100th birthday

Entering his second century, the Nobel laureate is still at work on a book.

Conference Addressed Systemic Risk Measurement

Scholars, regulators, and practitioners gathered to discuss better measurement models.

Hansen Wins BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award

Friedman Institute Director Lars Peter Hansen was honored for fundamental contributions to our understanding of how economic actors cope with risky and changing environments.

Four Chicago Researchers Win Sloan Fellowships

The awards to Veronica Guerrieri, Jesse Shapiro, and Amir Sufi of Chicago Booth and Azeem M. Shaikh, an assistant professor in the Economics Department, recognize their potential to contribute to their fields.

Heckman to Lead Econometric Society

James J. Heckman was elected second vice-president and will become president in 2013.

Cash for Clunkers had Modest Effects

Chicago Booth's Amir Sufi and coauthor Atif Mian found the program mostly shifted sales.