C. Justin Cook

C. Justin Cook is an Associate Professor of Economics at Tulane University and Director of the M.A. Program in Political Economy with a Data Analytics Emphasis. He is also a faculty member of The Murphy Institute, connecting his economic expertise with broader policy applications.

Dr. Cook earned his PhD, MS, and BS in Economics from Louisiana State University. Prior to joining Tulane, he served as an assistant/associate professor at the University of California, Merced, building his academic career across prestigious institutions.

His research program investigates persistent patterns in economic growth and development, with particular focus on historical determinants of contemporary economic outcomes. Cook examines how historical, cultural, and even genetic differences observed in contemporary populations influence long-term economic trajectories, with lactose tolerance serving as a prime example of this research approach. His current work explores the persistence of populations and economic output from historical locations of past civilizations and investigates the aggregate impacts of redistributive policies, particularly in India.

Analysis of Cook's scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory examining the intersection of history, genetics, and economics. His recent publications increasingly incorporate geospatial analysis and satellite data to measure economic phenomena, demonstrating methodological innovation. A significant portion of his work focuses on India, particularly examining demonetization effects and public works programs, while maintaining his foundational interest in how historical patterns persist through time.

Dr. Cook actively contributes to the academic community through his directorship of the M.A. program at Tulane and maintains an active research agenda that bridges historical analysis with contemporary economic policy questions, particularly in developing contexts.