Kenneth Leonard

Dr. Kenneth L. Leonard is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. His work focuses on Africa, addressing issues in Development Economics and Health Economics through empirical studies of healthcare delivery systems and social learning dynamics.

• Education:
  • B.A. (1989) from Swarthmore College
  • Ph.D. (1997) from University of California at Berkeley

Research Interests:

• Investigates asymmetric information in healthcare delivery systems
• Analyzes peer effects and social networks in rural economies
• Examines NGO roles in public service provision
• Explores cultural determinants of gender behavior

Recent work emphasizes health worker performance across 8 African countries (Cameroun, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania), using vignette methodology and direct clinician observation. Publications span journals like Economic Development and Cultural Change and Health Policy and Planning, with methodological contributions on measuring process quality versus structural quality in healthcare.