Benjamin Lockwood

Benjamin Lockwood serves as Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where his research centers on public economics with emphasis on taxation systems and economic inequality.

His academic background includes:

• Graduate studies at Harvard University

Lockwood's scholarly focus integrates behavioral economics with public policy design, examining how tax instruments can simultaneously address income redistribution and modify social behaviors. His work analyzes mechanisms to discourage harmful consumption (e.g., tobacco, sugary drinks), incentivize socially valuable career choices, and counteract cognitive biases in labor markets, contributing to evidence-based policy frameworks that acknowledge real-world human decision-making.

Analysis of recent publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory exploring taxation's role in behavioral modification and inequality mitigation. Key thematic threads include psychological drivers of lottery participation, efficacy of sin taxes in public health contexts, and pandemic-induced economic disparities, spanning health economics, labor policy, and behavioral finance with consistent policy relevance.

His research appears in leading journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Public Economics, and Journal of Economic Perspectives.

While specific grant funding and doctoral advisees aren't detailed in source materials, Lockwood's active policy engagement through Wharton's Knowledge platform indicates ongoing research mentorship and potential external funding for his public economics initiatives.

He maintains academic impact through institutional affiliations rather than dedicated laboratories, contributing to public discourse via policy briefs and media commentary on taxation and inequality without reference to formal research teams.