William J. Collins

William J. Collins is the Terence E. Adderley Jr. Professor of Economics at Vanderbilt University and Co-Director of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)’s Development of the American Economy Program. His research focuses on labor markets, urban economics, immigration, income inequality, racial disparities, and labor unions. He has held roles such as Senior Economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Editor of the Journal of Economic History and Explorations in Economic History.

• Previously served as Chair of the Department of Economics and Director of Graduate Studies.
• Awarded the Nordhaus Award for teaching excellence and the Nevins Prize for outstanding research in economic history.

His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, contributing to policy-relevant insights on migration, inequality, and institutional impacts on labor markets. He has authored numerous influential studies on topics ranging from 19th-century urbanization to modern immigration patterns.