Cynthia Bansak

Cynthia Bansak is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics at St. Lawrence University, where she also serves as Economics Department Coordinator. Previously, she held roles at San Diego State University and the Federal Reserve System. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.A. from Yale University. Her research focuses on labor economics, international immigration, remittances, educational attainment, and business cycles. She co-authored the textbook *The Economics of Immigration (2nd ed., 2021)* and contributes to policy analysis through roles as co-editor of the *Eastern Economic Journal* and fellowships with IZA, GLO, and CReAM. She also holds a special-term professorship at China's Central University of Finance and Economics.

**Education**:

• Ph.D. in Economics, University of California, San Diego
• B.A. in Economics, Yale University

**Research Interests**: Bansak investigates how immigration policies, remittance flows, and household dynamics influence labor markets, education systems, and public policy outcomes. Her work bridges microeconomic theory with real-world applications, particularly in assessing impacts of U.S. and global migration policies. Recent studies include analyses of caregiving during the pandemic, border enforcement consequences, and China's demographic policies.

**Awards & Fellowships**:

• IZA Fellow (Institute of Labor Economics)
• GLO Fellow (Global Labor Organization)
• CReAM Research Fellow (Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration)
• Charles A. Dana Professorship

**Teaching & Academic Contributions**: At SLU, she teaches econometrics, labor economics, and Fed Challenge courses. Her pedagogical innovations include student-driven macroeconomics modules. She actively publishes in journals like the *American Economic Review* and *Journal of Policy Analysis and Management*, emphasizing applied research and policy relevance.

**International Affiliations**: She collaborates with the China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research (CHLR), integrating cross-border perspectives into her research on migration and labor markets.