Paul Hagstrom

Paul Hagstrom is the Leonard C. Ferguson Professor of Economics at Hamilton College, where he has been a faculty member since 1991. He currently serves on the President’s Planning Committee and the Oral Communication Committee, and previously directed the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center (2001-04) and led the Kirner-Johnson Building Project (2004-09).

• Educated at St. Olaf College (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa), University of Wisconsin-Madison (M.S., Ph.D.)

Hagstrom’s research bridges poverty economics and immigration policy, focusing on how public transfers, credit constraints, and occupational risks affect vulnerable populations. His work explores immigrant networks, refugee entrepreneurship, and labor supply dynamics in response to economic shocks.

Recent publications analyze food stamp participation, wage compensation for hazardous work, and credit card demand among low-income households. These studies span themes like social insurance, immigrant integration, and financial behavior.

Scientific Awards:

• Schwarz Research Grant (2003)
• USDA Economic Research Service Small Grants (2001-02)
• Arthur Levitt Omnibus Grant (1999-2000)
• Emerson Foundation Grant (1997)
• Class of 1965 Career Development Award (1993)

Hagstrom has secured grants from federal agencies and foundations to study poverty, immigration, and labor economics. He mentors students through collaborative research initiatives and served as a faculty advisor for Hamilton’s golf team.

His academic service includes leadership roles in Phi Beta Kappa, the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board, and infrastructure planning committees like the Social Science Space Planning Committee.