Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Christopher J. Palmer is an Associate Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, specializing in financial decision-making, credit markets, and policy interventions. His research focuses on how individuals and institutions respond to economic upheavals in areas like bankruptcy, retirement savings, and real estate. He holds a PhD in Economics from MIT and a BA in Economics and Mathematics from Brigham Young University. Palmer’s work has been published in top journals such as the American Economic Review , Journal of Finance , and Review of Financial Studies . He explores topics including racial disparities in bankruptcy outcomes, consumer payment behavior, and the effects of quantitative easing. His research is supported by affiliations with the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and the Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). Key honors include the 2022 Jamieson Prize and the 2019 Society for Financial Studies Best Paper Award. Palmer has contributed to public debates on policy issues like rent control and retirement savings through media outlets such as The New York Times , Bloomberg , and Vox .
Nikolai Roussanov is the Moise Y. Safra Associate Professor of Finance at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research spans asset pricing, econometrics, household finance, and macroeconomics, with a focus on market dynamics and behavioral economic factors. His research interests include: Asset pricing anomalies and risk factor modeling Household financial decision-making under uncertainty Macroeconomic impacts on commodity and currency markets Behavioral finance and mental accounting mechanisms Recent publications analyze inflation risks across asset classes, corporate bond valuation, behavioral retirement strategies, and the role of leisure economics in declining work hours. His work frequently integrates empirical finance and econometric methodologies. Scientific contributions include: Faculty Research Fellow, National Bureau of Economic Research His scholarship bridges technical financial modeling with real-world economic phenomena, covering topics like oil price shocks, mortgage liquidity, and systemic market failures.
Stephen Billings is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, where he holds the Global Real Estate Capital Markets Chair position. He serves as the faculty director of the MS in Real Estate program and research director for the CU Real Estate Center. His work spans multiple research centers including the Center for Research on Consumer Financial Decision Making and the Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate. Billings received his PhD in Economics from the University of Colorado, a MS in urban planning from the University of North Carolina, and a BS in economics from Georgetown University. Prior to joining CU Boulder in 2016, he was faculty at the University of North Carolina Charlotte with appointments in both economics and public policy, where he also served as faculty director for the real estate center. His research focuses on the intersection of housing, schools, neighborhoods and crime, addressing critical policy issues including the impact of public investment in light-rail transit on neighborhoods, school segregation's influence on academic achievement and crime, neighborhood gentrification causes, lead-based paint in low-income housing, and the effects of sea level rise and natural disasters on neighborhood sorting and household finances. Billings employs sophisticated analysis of large micro-datasets with studies based on data and policies in Charlotte, NC and Denver, CO. His work connects urban economics with public policy, demonstrating how neighborhood environments shape individual outcomes across multiple dimensions. Billings' recent publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on neighborhood effects, school choice impacts, crime economics, and housing market dynamics. His work frequently examines the intersection of race, housing, and economic outcomes, with particular attention to policy implications. He has developed innovative methodological approaches to studying residential amenities and neighborhood spillovers, with increasing attention to climate change impacts on housing markets. His research appears in top journals including The Quarterly Journal of Economics, American Economic Review: Insights, and Journal of Urban Economics. As an educator, Billings teaches undergraduate and masters classes in real estate finance and economics, as well as doctoral and masters level courses on cost-benefit analysis and statistical methods. He has extensive consulting experience conducting economic impact studies, including assessments of North Carolina's public higher education system, affordable housing needs in Colorado communities, and the economic effects of marijuana legalization on property markets. His practical policy work complements his academic research, creating a bridge between theoretical insights and real-world applications. Billings leads significant research initiatives through the CU Real Estate Center, where he directs studies examining the impact of business improvement districts and other urban development policies. His work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, making substantial contributions to our understanding of how housing, education, and neighborhood environments shape individual outcomes and community development. His December 2023 memo on the HUD Officer Next Door Program exemplifies his engagement with current housing policy issues.
Wei Xiong is the Hugh Leander and Mary Trumbull Adams Professor in Finance and Professor of Economics at Princeton University, affiliated with the Department of Economics and Bendheim Center for Finance. His research centers on behavioral finance and capital market imperfections with a focus on China's financial system and commodity markets. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Finance from Duke University (2001) B.S. in Physics from University of Science and Technology of China (1993) Research Interests: Professor Xiong's work fundamentally explores behavioral finance and capital market imperfections , pioneering studies on speculative bubbles , heterogeneous beliefs in asset pricing , and financing frictions . His recent scholarship critically examines the financialization of commodity markets , belief distortions during financial crises , and the unique institutional dynamics of China's hybrid economy , where state and market forces interact. Publication Trends: Xiong's 48 publications in top-tier journals reveal an evolving trajectory from classical behavioral finance (2001-2013) toward contemporary China-focused systemic analysis (2017-2025). Recent works integrate cryptocurrency economics, real estate risk management, and policy design in emerging markets, demonstrating methodological rigor through structural modeling and empirical analysis of large-scale financial datasets. Scientific Awards: 2012 Smith Breeden Award (first prize) for the best non-corporate finance paper published in Journal of Finance 2013 NASDAQ OMX Award for the best asset pricing paper presented in Western Finance Association Meetings Professional Activities: As NBER research associate and former Management Science finance editor (2009-2011), Xiong bridges academia and policy. He co-founded VoxChina.org to foster China-world economic dialogue and co-edited The Handbook of China’s Financial System (Princeton University Press). His keynote addresses at major conferences—including the 2024 Chinese Economists Society meeting on “Information Discovery in a Hybrid Economy”—demonstrate sustained policy influence. Labs and Initiatives: Xiong leads Princeton's Bendheim Center for Finance research initiatives and directs VoxChina.org, which produces influential policy analyses on China's economy. His recent work includes the NBER-commissioned study on commodity market risks and ongoing projects examining big tech lending models and data privacy impacts on digital finance.
California Polytechnic State UniversityUnited States
Pratish Patel is a Professor in the Finance department at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), where he has served on the faculty since 2013. He teaches core courses including Futures and Options and Real Estate Investments. His educational background: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech M.S. in Financial Engineering from UC Berkeley Ph.D. in Business from UC Berkeley Dr. Patel's research spans real estate economics, financial markets, and asset valuation with emphasis on geographical technology adoption patterns and skyscraper development dynamics. His work intersects urban economics and capital market theory, notably exploring how financial conditions influence architectural decisions as demonstrated in his co-authored paper "Form Follows Finance" with Robert Helsley. Professional activities include energy trading experience in power, natural gas, and coal markets, plus founding OptiOpt Inc.—a retirement portfolio advisory startup that ultimately ceased operations.
Daniel M.G. Raff is an Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he has been affiliated since 1994. His research bridges business history and strategy, focusing on urban history, public policy, and historical demography. PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987 BPhil, Oxford University, 1978 MPA, Princeton University, 1976 BA, New College, 1973 Raff’s work explores the historical evolution of business institutions, with recent publications analyzing topics such as pre-modern Chinese real estate markets , industrial routines , and strategic risk management . His research often employs archival data and interdisciplinary methodologies. His publications span business history, economic performance, and transactional engineering, reflecting trends in historical demography , corporate strategy , and market evolution . Raff has also contributed to academic leadership as a Trustee of the Business History Conference and Chair of committees at the Economic History Association. Daniel Raff actively engages in teaching courses like Value Creation & Val Cap and Deals: Econ Struc Trans , emphasizing critical historical thinking in strategic business analysis. He is affiliated with institutions such as the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Wharton Financial Institutions Center.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Antoinette Schoar is the Stewart C. Myers-Horn Family Professor of Finance and Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Germany. Her research focuses on entrepreneurial finance, fintech, consumer finance, and cryptocurrencies. She co-founded ideas42, a nonprofit applying behavioral economics to social issues, and co-directs MIT's Consumer Finance Initiative. Education: PhD in Economics, University of Chicago Undergraduate Degree, Germany Research Interests: Her work spans cryptocurrency markets, household finance, and financial intermediation. Recent projects include analyzing the Terra Luna crash, crypto retail trading behavior, and the impact of remote work on labor dynamics. She emphasizes policy-relevant insights, particularly in consumer protection and financial stability. Articles Overview: Her recent publications examine financial advice markets, mortgage market segmentation, and the effects of the pandemic on small businesses. These reflect a focus on real-world applications of financial theory, blending empirical analysis with policy implications. Awards: 2024 TIAA Paul A. Samuelson Award 2009 Kauffman Prize Medal Brattle Prize (Journal of Finance) Advising & Grants: She advises on fintech policy and has led NBER Corporate Finance research. Her executive education courses (e.g., Blockchain and Crypto Applications) bridge academic insights with industry practices. Labs/Initiatives: Co-directs MIT Sloan’s Consumer Finance Initiative, exploring technological impacts on consumer markets. Engaged with the NBER Corporate Finance group and serves as Executive Editor of the Journal of Finance.
Shinsuke Tanaka is an Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Connecticut (2023–present). Previously, he held positions at Tufts University’s Fletcher School (2011–2023) and Department of Economics (2022–2023). He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University (2011), M.A. in International and Development Economics from Yale (2006), and B.A. in Liberal Arts from Soka University of America (2005). His research focuses on environmental economics, health economics, and development economics, with emphasis on interactions between environmental policies, public health, and economic activities in low-income countries. Key areas include pollution’s health impacts, environmental policy evaluations, and early childhood health policies. Recent publications analyze sunlight’s effect on suicide rates, long-term air pollution mortality links, daylight saving time’s cardiovascular impacts, and EV adoption challenges. His work combines econometric rigor with policy relevance, often covered in media like UConn Today, The Economist, and VoxEU. Teaching includes courses on environmental valuation, climate economics, and applied research methods for PhD students. He directs the Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy and maintains active research collaborations through institutions like NBER and CEEPR.
Sai Balakrishnan is an Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley. He serves as Co-Director of Global Metropolitan Studies and Chair of the Urban Studies undergraduate major. His research focuses on global urban inequalities, agrarian-urban land dynamics, and caste capitalism in India, particularly along economic corridors like the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Balakrishnan holds a PhD from Harvard University and a Master’s from MIT. Education: PhD (Harvard), Master of City Planning (MIT) Research Interests: Balakrishnan examines land-use transformations in India, emphasizing how agrarian elites and urban firms negotiate property rights. His work highlights spatial politics of urbanization, including transfer of development rights (TDR) and the geographies of caste-driven development. Recent studies include a global comparative analysis of TDR systems in New York and Mumbai, and a book project on caste capitalism and uneven development in India since the colonial era. Publications: His 2019 book Shareholder Cities explores land conflicts and agrarian-urban transformations along India’s economic corridors. Key articles include analyses of land markets in Mumbai and Bangalore, and the intersection of highway infrastructure with decentralization challenges. Awards: William Holland Prize (2013), ACSP Gill Chin Lim Award (2014) Advising & Grants: Balakrishnan collaborates on interdisciplinary projects linking urban planning, political economy, and social justice. Ongoing work includes a book on caste capitalism and studies of land-based financing for infrastructure in India. Labs/Teams: Active in Berkeley’s Global Metropolitan Studies initiative, focusing on transnational urbanization processes.
Hiroyuki Iseki is Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at University of Maryland's School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and Research Affiliate with the National Center for Smart Growth. His work examines interactions between transportation, land use, equity, and environmental sustainability. Research focuses on: Transit-oriented development impacts on firm location Equity in public transit finance Climate policy implementation in urban planning Active transportation infrastructure analysis Recent publications analyze post-pandemic transit demand shifts, campus multimodal conflicts, and bicycle accessibility modeling. Methodological strengths include spatial econometrics, GIS analysis, and longitudinal data approaches. Work increasingly addresses climate adaptation in transportation planning and EV charging grid impacts. Research contributes to urban policy through WMATA collaborations and Japanese municipal climate planning studies. Current PhD program directorship advances urban planning analytics training.
Douglas Abbey is a Lecturer in Finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business since 2005, specializing in real estate investment and urban development. He co-founded IHP Capital Partners, AMB Property Corporation (now Prologis), and Swift Real Estate Partners, contributing to industrial real estate and affordable housing sectors. Abbey holds an MCP from UC Berkeley and a BA from Amherst College. His research and teaching focus on real estate investment strategies, land use policies, and their socio-economic impacts. He emphasizes how market forces, demographics, and regulations shape housing affordability and urban integration. Abbey has authored multiple case studies analyzing real estate projects and development challenges. Education: MCP, UC Berkeley, 1979 BA, Amherst College, 1971 Abbey has served on boards of prominent organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (past Global Board member, Chairman of the ULI Foundation), Bridge Housing Corporation (emeritus after 20 years), and the Nantucket Yacht Club. He supports the Abbey Master in Real Estate Development + Design at UC Berkeley. His academic service includes teaching GSBGEN 306: Real Estate Investment and advising students on career paths in real estate. His case studies explore diverse topics like hotel development, distressed asset management, and industrial REIT strategies.
W. Brent Lindquist is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Texas Tech University, affiliated with the TTU Mathematical Finance Program. His contact details include office location in the Mathematics & Statistics building (Room 104), phone (+1 806 834 2348), and email brent.lindquist@ttu.edu. His research spans computational financial mathematics, porous media flow, neuroscience applications, and quantum electrodynamics. Key contributions include dynamic asset pricing with market microstructure integration, pore-scale flow modeling using 3D micro-tomography, automated neuron morphology identification, and QED computations for electron magnetic moments. Recent work emphasizes ESG factor incorporation into financial models. Analysis of 2023–2025 publications reveals a dominant focus on sustainable finance, particularly ESG-integrated option pricing and portfolio optimization. Methodologies include random forests for market microstructure analysis, skew random walks for volatility modeling, and Lévy processes for Bitcoin dynamics. Cross-cutting themes involve hedonic real estate models with ESG factors and unified asset pricing frameworks bridging classical finance theories.
Professor Mary Ellen Carter is the Joseph L. Sweeney Chair in Accounting at Boston College's Carroll School of Management. She holds a BS from Babson College, an MBA from Boston College, and a PhD from MIT's Sloan School of Management. A CPA with prior audit experience at Coopers & Lybrand, she focuses on financial reporting, executive compensation, and corporate governance. Her research explores gender pay gaps, labor market pressures on compensation, and the role of compensation consultants. Her work has been published in top journals like Journal of Accounting and Economics and Journal of Financial Economics , and featured in Forbes , Financial Times , and New York Times . She currently serves as Editor of The Accounting Review and Associate Editor of Management Science . Notable awards include the Coughlin Distinguished Teaching Award (2019) and Ernst & Young Faculty Fellowship (2021-2022). Professor Carter teaches intermediate accounting and has held faculty positions at Columbia Business School and Wharton School. Her research trends emphasize real-world impacts of accounting policies, regulatory changes, and labor market dynamics. Recent studies address pandemic-driven compensation shifts and ESG-related governance mechanisms.
Asaf Bernstein is an Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, a Faculty Scholar, Co-Director of the Center for Research on Consumer Financial Decision Making, and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. He earned his Ph.D. in Financial Economics from MIT in 2016 and served as Senior Academic Advisor on Climate Issues to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during 2021-22. Education: Ph.D. Financial Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016 B.S. Economics & Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College Research Focus: Bernstein’s work lies at the intersection of policy and finance, using plausibly identified empirical designs to study financial regulation, climate risk, household balance-sheet dynamics, and the real effects of credit markets. His current agenda spans macro-prudential policy, public-pension wealth transmission, historical introduction of credit ratings, and partisan sorting under climate change. Publication Trends: Across more than a dozen forthcoming or published papers, Bernstein consistently exploits natural experiments—regulatory shocks, historical clearinghouses, Dutch amortization reform, Great-Depression bank distress, SLR exposure—to quantify how financial frictions affect prices, allocations, and innovation. The corpus maps broadly onto household finance, corporate finance, and climate-finance fields, with frequent overlap in real-estate and financial-history contexts. Honors & Awards: 2019 AQR Insight Distinguished Paper Award 2016 AQR Top Finance Graduate Award (global top-six PhD honor) 2022 Brattle Group Distinguished Paper Prize, Journal of Finance 2018 Northern Finance Association Best Paper in Risk Management Kahle Family Research Award Grants & Advising: While specific grant amounts are not disclosed, his projects have been supported by data access from Dutch administrative panels, U.S. credit-bureau micro-data, and historical securities archives. He advises PhD students in empirical finance and climate-economics and collaborates extensively across Leeds, NBER, MIT, and Stanford networks. Centers & Labs: Bernstein co-leads the Center for Research on Consumer Financial Decision Making at Leeds, an interdisciplinary lab linking finance, real-estate, and public-policy scholars to external regulatory partners including the SEC, Federal Reserve, and FINRA.
Rebecca Diamond is the Class of 1988 Professor of Economics at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), and holds a courtesy appointment in the Economics Department. Her research focuses on urban economics, housing policy, economic inequality, and labor markets. Key areas include analyzing rent control effects, gig economy dynamics, nutritional disparities, and spatial sorting of workers by skill. She advises doctoral students on topics like urban economics and public policy. Her work has been published in top journals such as the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Review of Economic Studies. Teaching responsibilities include courses on applied econometrics, public economics, and social insurance. She has been involved in doctoral training through practicums and independent studies. Her research has influenced policy debates on housing affordability, racial disparities in housing returns, and the impacts of high-skilled immigration on innovation. Positions: Professor of Economics (GSB), SIEPR Senior Fellow, Courtesy Professor (Economics) Key Research Themes: Urban policy, labor market inequality, gig economy, food deserts, rent control
