Michael Roberts

Michael Roberts is the William H. Lawrence Professor and Professor of Finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and is affiliated with the Institute for Law and Economics and the Wharton Financial Institutions Center. His academic career spans teaching roles at UC Berkeley, Duke University, and Wharton, with a focus on corporate finance, banking, investments, and financial education.

Education:

• B.A. in Economics, University of California, San Diego
• M.S. in Statistics, University of California, Berkeley
• Ph.D. in Economics, University of California, Berkeley

Roberts's research bridges corporate finance, banking, and investments, with recent emphasis on AI and machine learning in financial decision-making. His work on financial contracts, capital structure, and payout policies has significantly advanced empirical finance. He has authored influential studies on debt covenants, credit supply effects, and financial literacy.

His publications demonstrate expertise in empirical corporate finance, debt structuring, financial econometrics, and financial education. Key topics include collateralized loan obligations, interest rate impacts on contracts, and capital structure persistence. These works reflect his commitment to integrating rigorous methodology with practical financial challenges.

Scientific Recognition:

• Jensen Prize (2016)
• Marshall E. Blume Prize (2015)
• Brattle Prize nominations (2008, 2005)
• Multiple teaching awards at Wharton and Duke
• Geewax, Terker, and Co. Prize (2010, 2006)

As an educator, Roberts has taught undergraduates, MBAs, PhDs, and executives for over 25 years. He founded the Wharton Financial Analytics initiative and the Financial Proficiency Initiative (FPI), which provides financial education to high school students. His courses include Corporate Finance, Data Science for Finance, and Empirical Methods in Corporate Finance.