Jarrad Harford

Jarrad Harford is a Professor of Finance and Business Economics and the Paul Pigott-PACCAR Professor in Business Administration at the University of Washington, where he has been a faculty member since 2001. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Oregon from 1997 to 2001.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD, University of Rochester (1998)
• MS, University of Rochester (1996)
• BS, Pennsylvania State University (1993)

Harford's research centers on corporate finance, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, business valuation, dividend policy, and stock splits. His current projects investigate innovation dynamics, political polarization's economic effects, merger conference call analysis, and skill acquisition in capital markets. His work consistently examines how corporate decisions impact firm value and shareholder wealth through rigorous empirical analysis.

Analysis of his 2019-2024 publications reveals dominant themes in corporate governance monitoring mechanisms, merger wave propagation, and payout policy evolution. A significant research strand explores director influence on firm value and institutional investor monitoring, while another examines private equity value creation through comprehensive buyout datasets. His methodology frequently employs large-scale transactional analysis and event studies to establish causal relationships.

His teaching excellence has been formally recognized through:

• Undergraduate Professor of the Year in Finance (2005, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2017)
• Interfraternity / Panhellenic Council Teaching Excellence Award (2011, 2013)
• William A. and Helen I. Fowler Endowment for Special Achievement in Finance (2009, 2013)
• Dean's Faculty Research Award (2008)
• ISMBA Excellence in Teaching Award (2006)
• Wells Fargo Faculty Award for Undergraduate Teaching (2005)
• Dean's Junior Faculty Research Award (2004)

While specific advisee lists and grant details aren't provided in available materials, Harford's sustained research productivity indicates substantial mentoring of graduate students and consistent funding support throughout his 25-year academic career. His work demonstrates particular expertise in extracting causal insights from complex corporate transactions.

No dedicated research laboratory or formal team structure is referenced in the source materials, though his collaborative publication pattern suggests active research partnerships across multiple institutions.