Ben Blau

Ben Blau is a Professor and holder of the George S. Eccles Endowed Chair in Finance at Utah State University's Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Department of Economics and Finance. He joined USU in 2009 and has received multiple awards, including 2012 Teacher of the Year and 2013 Researcher of the Year. Previously, he taught at Brigham Young University and earned a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Mississippi, with a focus on Microeconomics and Econometrics. His research spans financial markets, ethics, economic policy, and government-firm interactions. He has over 90 publications in journals like the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis and Journal of Development Economics. Notable awards include the 2010 Financial Review Outstanding Paper and 2012 Journal of Financial Research Best Article. His work has been featured in outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Politico.

Education:

• Ph.D., Finance, University of Mississippi (2008), Emphasis: Econometrics & Microeconomic Theory
• MS, Economics, Utah State University (2005), Emphasis: Economic Theory
• BS, Finance, Utah State University (2002), Minor: Economics

Research Interests: Financial development, asset pricing, market microstructure, banking, economic policy, and financial ethics. His work explores topics like price clustering, investor sentiment, lobbying impacts, and cryptocurrency dynamics.

Recent Publications: Focus on short selling strategies, regulatory effects, behavioral finance, and the intersection of politics and markets. Key themes include price dynamics, liquidity, and market efficiency.

Awards & Recognition:

• George S. Eccles Endowed Chair in Finance (2019–present)
• Outstanding Article Awards from Financial Review (2010) and Journal of Financial Research (2012)
• National Residence Hall Honorary Outstanding Teacher (2017)

Teaching & Service: Teaches courses like Fundamentals of Finance and Investment Analysis. Serves as Department Head since 2020. Active in editorial roles and consulting (e.g., Nathan Associates Inc.).