Melvin Stephens, Jr.

Melvin Stephens, Jr. is a Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), with office hours Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm in Lorch Hall, Ann Arbor.

His research spans critical areas including:

• Labor Economics (primary focus)
• Retirement and Aging Economics
• Household Consumption Behavior
• Nutrition Economics
• Methodological Improvements in Consumption Measurement

Stephens' seminal 2018 NBER working paper demonstrates consistent declines in caloric and nutrient intake at retirement through rigorous longitudinal analysis, challenging prior assumptions about consumption smoothing. His work reveals critical methodological flaws in existing consumption indices and establishes that retirement impacts food consumption more severely than unemployment, with significant implications for retirement planning and policy.

No scientific awards, advising activities, or laboratory affiliations are documented in the provided materials.