Ben Feigenberg

Ben Feigenberg is a Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Faculty Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). His research employs experimental and quasi-experimental methods to address policy-relevant questions in labor, development, crime, and education economics.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2014)

Feigenberg's research centers on critical societal issues through an economic lens. He investigates racial and socioeconomic disparities in criminal justice systems, the efficacy of restorative justice practices in schools, and the impacts of immigration policies on labor markets. His work on school voucher systems in Chile and traffic stop disparities demonstrates rigorous empirical analysis aimed at informing equitable policy solutions. Current projects examine rehabilitative programming in state prisons and school-based restorative justice interventions.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong focus on restorative justice applications in educational settings, racial profiling in law enforcement, and immigration economics. His methodological approach consistently leverages quasi-experimental designs to isolate causal effects, with increasing emphasis on spillover effects and policy efficiency trade-offs. The interdisciplinary nature of his work bridges economics with criminology, education policy, and development studies.

Feigenberg maintains an active research profile through his NBER affiliation, though specific awards are not detailed in available materials. His position as NBER Faculty Research Associate signifies recognition of his scholarly contributions to economic research.

His ongoing projects indicate active grant funding for studies on restorative justice in public schools and rehabilitative programming in state prisons. These initiatives involve collaboration with local policymakers and educational institutions to translate research findings into practical interventions. While student advising details are not specified, his research scope suggests mentorship of graduate students in applied microeconomics.

Feigenberg's work appears to be conducted through collaborative networks rather than a dedicated lab, with partnerships spanning university departments, school districts, and criminal justice agencies for field-based research implementation.