Lowell Taylor

Lowell Taylor is the H. John Heinz III University Professor of Economics at the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, where he has been on the faculty since 1990. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at NORC at the University of Chicago, where he is Principal Investigator of the 1997 National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY97). Previously, he served as a senior economist with President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisors and has been a Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley's Economics Department in 2011, 2012, and 2017.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan (1989), an M.A. in Statistics from the University of Michigan (1984), an M.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan (1983), and a B.A. in Economics from Andrews University (1980).

Professor Taylor's research spans labor economics, economic demography, and health economics. His recent work examines:

• Public education and intergenerational mobility
• Racial differences in mortality
• Affirmative action in Indian higher education
• The impact of the Great Migration on African American mortality
• Firm entry regulation and job creation in Portugal
• Inefficiency in U.S. health insurance markets
• The relative efficacy of healthcare provided by the Veterans Health Administration

His publication record shows a consistent focus on labor markets, health economics, and economic demography, with recent work increasingly emphasizing health outcomes, mortality analysis, and veterans' healthcare. His research often employs sophisticated econometric methods to address important policy questions, particularly around inequality, mobility, and healthcare systems.

Professor Taylor has received numerous prestigious awards:

• 30th Annual Health Care Research Award from NIHCM (2024)
• 20th Annual Arrow Award from International Health Economics Association (2012)
• 11th Annual Health Care Research Award from NIHCM (2004)
• University Professorship (2018)
• Four-time recipient of the Martcia Wade Award for Teaching Excellence (1994, 2004, 2007, 2021)

He has been actively involved in teaching at Carnegie Mellon University, regularly instructing courses in Applied Economic Analysis and Health Economics. His committee service includes significant roles such as Chair of the Faculty Senate and President of the Faculty Organization (2024-2026), Voting Member of the CMU Board of Trustees, and service on multiple university councils including the Budget and Financial Affairs Council, Educational Council, Faculty Affairs Council, Research Council, and Student Affairs Council.

Professor Taylor's work with the National Longitudinal Study of Youth represents a major ongoing research commitment, and his collaborations with researchers like David Card demonstrate his position within influential research networks in labor economics and health economics.