Ted Bergstrom

Ted Bergstrom is a Distinguished Professor of Economics and holder of the Aaron and Cherie Raznick Endowed Chair in Economics at the Department of Economics, University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). He is affiliated with the College of Letters & Science and has been actively involved in research, teaching, and academic publishing. His work focuses on game theory, public economics, journal pricing, and experimental economics.

Bergstrom holds a PhD and has served as a leading figure in UCSB's economics department. His research interests include the economics of academic publishing, volunteer’s dilemmas, and the application of game theory to social and political systems. Notable projects include analyses of 'Big Deal' journal bundling contracts and critiques of monopolistic practices in academic publishing.

His teaching includes graduate courses on economic theory and public finance, as well as an innovative undergraduate principles course using experimental economics. Bergstrom co-developed interactive classroom experiments accessible via web-based platforms, emphasizing practical learning.

Research contributions span diverse areas: from analyzing postoperative equine treatments to modeling altruistic behavior in volunteer scenarios. His work frequently bridges theoretical economics with real-world policy implications, particularly in scholarly communication and healthcare economics.

Bergstrom’s professional activities include extensive journal refereeing and collaborations with international institutions like the University of Wisconsin and the Center for Economic Studies in Munich. His sabbatical travels to Japan, Italy, Bavaria, and Sweden reflect global academic engagement.