Leon Moses

Leon Moses (1924-2013) was a distinguished Professor of Economics at Northwestern University, holding a joint appointment with the Transportation Center until his retirement in 2005. He served as Chair of the Department of Economics (1970-72) and Director of the Transportation Center (1974-79). His research focused on transportation economics, urban development, and regional science. Moses held academic positions at Harvard, Kellogg School of Management, and held visiting roles at institutions worldwide. He was recognized for teaching excellence and received awards including the 1995 Outstanding Research Paper Award and Honor Roll for Teaching (1980, 1981).

Education: B.A., Ohio State University (1945); M.A. and Ph.D., Harvard University (1950, 1952).

Research Interests: Moses specialized in microeconomics, transportation regulation, urban economics, and spatial theory. His work explored firm location, transportation costs, and the interplay between economic activity and infrastructure. Notable contributions include studies on airline safety post-deregulation and motor carrier safety audits.

Grants & Conferences: Moses led projects funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Army Engineers, and industry. He organized pivotal conferences on transportation deregulation, safety, and hazardous materials logistics. Key outputs include Transportation Safety in an Age of Deregulation (1989) and Transportation of Hazardous Materials (1993).

Awards:

• 1964 Foundation Fellowship
• Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship (1969)
• President, Regional Science Association (1972)
• Outstanding Research Paper Award (1995)

Labs/Teams: Central to the Transportation Center’s research, Moses collaborated with institutions like the Kellogg School and the University of Illinois. His work bridged academia, policy, and industry, influencing transportation and urban planning frameworks.