Levi Crews

Levi Crews is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Before joining UCLA, he was an IES Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University (2023-2024) and earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago in 2023.

Research Interests: His work focuses on macroeconomics, spatial economics, and international trade, with emphasis on how spatial allocation of economic activity impacts long-term growth and welfare. Key themes include urban agglomeration effects, water resource management in agriculture, and policy implications of spatial dynamics.

Recent Publications: Recent work includes analyses of spatial policy impacts on economic growth and a study on global water use efficiency in agriculture, co-authored with T. Carleton and I. Nath. His 2024 paper in AEA Papers & Proceedings examines regional variations in water scarcity linked to trade patterns.

Teaching: He has TA'd advanced courses in spatial economics, macroeconomics, and international trade at both undergraduate and PhD levels, designing problem sets and exams. Contributed to course materials for PhD math camp and reading groups.

Professional Engagement: Discussed papers at conferences including NBER Summer Institute, West Coast Spatial Workshop, and FRB Chicago Conference on urban economics.