Dermot J Hayes is the Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences and holds the Pioneer Hi-Bred International Chair in Agribusiness at Iowa State University's Department of Economics and Ivy School of Business. His expertise spans agricultural economics, financial economics, and international trade policy with a focus on commodity markets, farm policy, and China's agricultural impacts. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of California, Berkeley (1986 and 1982). Research Interests: Includes U.S. farm policy, international trade dynamics, agribusiness strategies, crop insurance, financial derivatives, and China's role in global commodity markets. His work emphasizes policy analysis, market resilience, and emerging challenges like disease outbreaks (e.g., African Swine Fever). Awards: AAEA Fellow (2007), AAEA Enduring Quality Award (2006), and J.H. Ellis Teaching Award (2005). His research on food safety auctions remains influential. Consulting: Since 1995, he has advised the National Pork Producers Association on trade economics. His work informs policy debates on tariffs, trade deals, and market disruptions. Labs & Collaborations: Engaged with Iowa State's interdisciplinary initiatives on agriculture-environmental nexus and bioenergy systems.
Professor Francisco Gomes is a Professor of Finance at the London Business School , where he has been a faculty member since 2000. His research focuses on capital markets, asset allocation, household finance, and macroeconomics , with a particular emphasis on life-cycle investing, retirement policy, and risk-sharing mechanisms. BA - Universidade Nova de Lisboa MA/PhD - Harvard University His work has been published in top-tier journals like The Journal of Finance , The Review of Financial Studies , and The American Economic Review . Recent publications analyze automation's impact on wealth dispersion, yield-chasing behavior in household investments, and optimal target-date fund strategies for retirement planning. Professor Gomes is a Research Affiliate of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and co-founded the CEPR Network on Household Finance. His research bridges theoretical models with empirical analysis, often incorporating computational methods (e.g., Fortran/Matlab code for life-cycle models).
Gerald Pruckner is a Professor at the Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU), where he serves as Head of the Institute of Health Economics and Dean of the Kurt Rothschild School of Economics and Statistics (RoSES). His academic career spans over three decades with significant leadership roles including heading the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Aging, Health, and the Labor Market (2014-2021), and serving on the board of the Austrian Health Economics Association (ATHEA). He teaches multiple courses including Introductory Microeconomics, Empirical Economics, and Health Economics for the 2025W semester. Pruckner earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Linz in 1993. His academic journey began as an Assistant Professor at JKU (1989-2002), followed by a Professorship at the University of Innsbruck (2002-2006), then returning to JKU as Associate Professor (2006-2010) before his current Professorship (since 2011). He has held visiting positions at the University of Adelaide and UC Berkeley. His research focuses at the intersection of health economics, behavioral economics, and aging, examining healthcare systems, physician behavior, and the relationship between labor markets and health outcomes. Recent work investigates hospital crowding effects, gender differences in medical practice, chronic disease screening effectiveness, and child health services. His research consistently applies economic principles to understand healthcare delivery with emphasis on the Austrian context, often utilizing register data for evidence-based policy insights. Analysis of Pruckner's publication trends shows a sustained focus on practical healthcare issues with policy relevance. His work spans hospital management challenges, gender differences in medical practice, chronic disease screening effectiveness, and child health services. The research consistently bridges academic inquiry with practical health policy applications, with increasing attention to pandemic impacts and digital transformation in healthcare. Board member of Austrian Health Economics Association (ATHEA) since 2015 Member of Health Economics Committee (Verein für Socialpolitik) since 2013 Deputy head of national research network 'The Austrian Center for Labor Economics and the Analysis of the Welfare State' (2008-2013) Head of Christian Doppler Laboratory for Aging, Health, and the Labor Market (2014-2021) Pruckner actively mentors graduate students through dissertation colloquia and master's thesis supervision. His research portfolio includes 23 projects with significant funding, including current work on health services research in Upper Austria and empirical analysis of Linz healthcare provision. As Dean of RoSES and Head of the Health Economics Institute, he provides institutional leadership while maintaining an active research agenda with over 100 publications. He leads multiple research teams focused on health services research, with current projects examining healthcare provision in Linz, health indicators for the region, and broader health system analysis. His work bridges academic research and practical health policy applications through collaborations with regional health authorities and participation in professional associations.
Lu Yi is a Professor at the Department of Economics, Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management , holding a CITIC Chair Professor since 2022. He is also Director of multiple research centers , including the Tsinghua University China Economic and Social Data Research Center and the Center for International Economics. A doctoral supervisor , he has guided students across institutions and academic programs. Lu Yi's education includes a BA from Fudan University's School of Life Sciences (1999) , an MA from Fudan University's School of Management (2003) , and a PhD from the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Business and Economics (2007) . His research focuses on Chinese economy, public finance, and global economic governance , with particular emphasis on trade liberalization, institutional quality, and environmental policy. Key research areas : Trade policy impacts, productivity gains from trade, environmental regulation effects, and labor market responses to technological change Leadership roles : Editorial board member of American Economic Journal: Economic Policy , Co-Editor of China & World Economy , former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Economic Journal Policy advisory : Expert for National Healthcare Security Administration's DIP payment system, National Council Member for Social and Economic Council His scientific awards span national and provincial levels , including the First Sun Shangqing Young Scholar Award , Pushan World Economics Outstanding Paper Youth Award , and multiple provincial social science achievement awards in Shandong, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Sichuan. His publications in top journals like the Journal of Public Economics , Review of Economics and Statistics , and Nature Climate Change demonstrate his influence in applied economics and policy research.
Mauricio Drelichman is a Professor at the University of British Columbia's Vancouver School of Economics within the Faculty of Arts. He serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies and holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. His research focuses on Economic History , particularly Early Modern Spain , with emphasis on sovereign debt, fiscal policy, and institutional development. Ph.D., Northwestern University Director of Undergraduate Studies, UBC Research: Economic History, Early Modern Spain Drelichman's work investigates historical financial mechanisms such as sovereign debt contracts under Philip II, demonstrating how risk-sharing and contingent debt allowed sustained market access despite defaults. He has also analyzed resource curses , Dutch disease effects, and social consequences of persecution in Spain. His recent article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021) examines long-term impacts of the Spanish Inquisition , while earlier studies explored gender wage gaps and housing markets in Early Modern Toledo. His publications often focus on historical debt sustainability , financial repression , and institutional quality . Scientific Awards: AEHE 2021 Earl J. Hamilton Prize Explorations Prize (2005/06 and 2010/11)
Sunder Kekre is the Vasantrao Dempo Professor of Operations Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business , where he has held academic appointments since 1984. His research focuses on manufacturing systems, global supply chains, and healthcare operations management. Research Expertise : New product development structures, strategic costing, lean innovation, knowledge sharing in enterprise networks, and business analytics for coordinated supply chains. Key Publications : Contributions to journals like Management Science , Operations Research , and Production and Operations Management , with work on LNG storage valuation, RFID logistics, and healthcare disparities. Scientific Recognition : Dempo Chair Professorship Bosch Chair Professorship Best Paper Award (1995) Teaching : Courses in Operations Management, Strategic Management of the Enterprise, and Information Systems Project. Non-Academic Experience : Prior engineering roles at Tata Steel (1974-1980) and consulting engagements with Fortune 500 firms like Bosch, Caterpillar, and IBM.
Dr. Adriana Kugler is a Full Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and Economics. She currently serves as Governor of the Federal Reserve Board, on leave from Georgetown since 2023. Previously, she was U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank (2022–2023), Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Labor (2011–2013), and Vice Provost for Faculty at Georgetown (2013–2016). Her research focuses on labor markets, policy evaluation, and development economics, with notable work on unemployment insurance, immigration, and vocational training. She holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (1997) and a BA from McGill University (1991). Education : Ph.D. in Economics, University of California, Berkeley (1997) B.A. in Economics and Political Science (First Class Honors), McGill University (1991) Research Interests : Dr. Kugler examines the impact of public policies on labor markets, including payroll taxes, employment protections, and unemployment insurance. Her work bridges academia and policy, addressing issues like occupational licensing, immigration, and global development. She has published in top journals such as the American Economic Review and the Journal of Labor Economics. Awards : Chase Award (U.S. Treasury, 2023) 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance (Barrons, 2024–2025) John T. Dunlop Outstanding Scholar Award (2007) Global Development Network First Prize (2010) Grants and Service : She secured NSF grants supporting women in STEM and advised Congress on economic policies. She chairs committees at the National Academies of Science and served on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Technical Advisory Committee. Labs/Teams : Founder of the International Summer Institute on Policy Evaluation (2010–2013) and affiliated with multiple research institutes, including NBER and CEPR.
Richard Hornbeck is the V. Duane Rath Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is an economic historian and applied-micro economist whose research focuses on the historical development of the American economy, examining why some places and people have become wealthier while others have remained poorer. Hornbeck is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, affiliated with programs on the Development of the American Economy, Development Economics, and Environmental and Energy Economics. Hornbeck's research spans multiple critical areas of economic history, with particular emphasis on slavery and emancipation economics, environmental history (especially the Dust Bowl migration), gender dynamics in 19th-century manufacturing, railroad development, and agricultural economics related to the Ogallala Aquifer. His work frequently utilizes newly digitized historical data to provide fresh insights into longstanding economic questions, connecting historical events to contemporary economic issues of wealth distribution and regional disparities. His publication record shows strong trends in American economic development research, with recent work focusing on the economic impacts of emancipation, historical manufacturing patterns by gender, and urban economic development. Many of his papers have been published as lead articles in top journals including the Journal of Political Economy, American Economic Review, and Review of Economics and Statistics. Hornbeck has received several prestigious honors including the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship in 2014 and selection for the 2009 Review of Economic Studies Tour. His NBER affiliations demonstrate his standing in multiple subfields of economics research. Prior to joining Chicago Booth in 2015, Hornbeck was the Dunwalke Associate Professor of American History in the Economics Department at Harvard University. He received his PhD in economics from MIT in 2009 and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Chicago in 2004. His teaching includes courses on applied microeconomics in economic history and business in historical perspective, with course schedules extending through 2026.
Christine Percheski is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University , specializing in quantitative research on economic inequality, family dynamics, and health policy in the United States. Her work bridges demographic methods with sociological analysis to explore structural disparities. Areas of Interest: Family Demography Stratification and Social Inequality Work and Occupations Health Courses Taught: AMERICAN FAMILIES AFTER THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION FAMILIES AND SOCIETY DEMOGRAPHY FAMILY AND SOCIAL LEARNING FAMILIES: A GLOBAL APPROACH SOCIOLOGY OF FAMILIES Research Trends: Her publications focus on family structure, wealth distribution, racial disparities, and policy impacts, with longitudinal studies spanning 1975-2019. Articles address topics like maternal employment, fertility behavior, and health insurance access. Scientific Awards: NSF-funded project on wealth trends in households with children and the elderly
Dr. Sara McMenamin is an Associate Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego. She serves as the Associate Director of the MPH program and Interim Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education . Her research focuses on state-level policies addressing tobacco use and preventive services, particularly health insurance coverage for tobacco dependence treatment in California and nationally. She also co-chairs the California Health Benefits Review Program , evaluating proposed health insurance legislation's medical, cost, and public health impacts. Her work spans public health policy analysis , health insurance mandate evaluations, and tobacco control strategies. Key areas include analyzing the effects of tobacco tax increases (e.g., Proposition 56), tracking smoking trends among youth and adults, and investigating the interplay between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation. She has contributed to studies on fertility preservation mandates, telemedicine for substance use disorders, and health equity in insurance access. Recent research highlights include assessing declines in youth smoking despite e-cigarette surges, evaluating tobacco policy coverage changes in California, and projecting future cigarette consumption trends. Her work often bridges policy implementation and population health outcomes, emphasizing evidence-based approaches. Dr. McMenamin collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and state agencies to translate research into actionable policies. Her contributions span over 150 peer-reviewed publications, with frequent media and policy engagement (e.g., cited in 14+ news outlets for key studies).
Fritz Brugger is a Lecturer at the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences at ETH Zürich and serves as the executive director of NADEL (Network for African-Ethiopian Development Linkages). He holds a PhD in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. His research focuses on the developmental impacts of natural resource extraction, extractive industries' corporate roles, and governance challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Key areas include health impacts of mining, illicit financial flows, and policy interventions in resource-dependent economies. Prior to joining ETH Zürich, Brugger worked at Helvetas for eight years, later becoming a consultant on governance issues in water management, agriculture, and corporate responsibility. He designed an index-based agricultural insurance system and a mobile-tech platform for smallholder farmers' market access. His work spans diverse regions, with a focus on Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mozambique. His publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, such as Q-methodology for policy engagement, and address topics like mercury use in artisanal mining, corporate due diligence, and the energy transition's impact on social licenses. He contributes to global debates on illicit financial flows, tax evasion, and sustainable development goals implementation through multilateral institutions. Brugger's advisory and grant work includes projects on health impact assessments in mining communities, policy coherence in development aid, and the nexus of extractive industries and conflict. He collaborates with NGOs, governments, and private sector entities to bridge research and policy, particularly in fragile contexts.
Professor Susan Thorp is a Finance academic at the University of Sydney Business School . With a PhD in Economics from UNSW and prior roles at University of Technology Sydney and the Reserve Bank of Australia, she focuses on household finance , retirement planning , and financial market behavior . BEc (Hons) - University of Sydney Dip. Ed. - University of New England PhD - University of New South Wales Her research interests include: Life-cycle financial decision-making Behavioral influences on savings and investments Superannuation policy and market integration Commodity market dynamics Economic impacts of financial literacy Crises-driven market contagion Recent publications analyze retirement decumulation , financial trust , and commodity-equity market correlations . She leads cross-disciplinary teams applying dynamic programming , econometric modeling , and experimental design to financial challenges. Her grants include ARC Linkage Projects and ASIC commissions for improving financial communication and regulatory frameworks . Media outlets frequently cite her expertise on superannuation policy , market volatility , and retirement savings behavior .
Lin Chen is the Chair Professor of Finance and Stelux Endowed Professor in Finance at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), serving as Associate Dean (Research and Knowledge Exchange) in the Faculty of Business and Economics. He holds a PhD from the University of Florida and has held academic leadership roles at HKU and Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). His research focuses on financial technology, banking systems, corporate finance, and economic development, with notable contributions to understanding financial resilience during crises and institutional reforms. Educations: PhD/MBA in Finance from University of Florida, B.E. in Engineering from South China University of Technology Leadership roles: Associate Dean (HKU), Board Member of HKU-Standard Chartered FinTech Academy, Currency Board Committee member Research interests span financial innovation , banking competition , corporate governance , and ESG integration . Key projects include RGC Theme-based grants on FinTech stability/inclusion and HK's financial center development. His work is published in top journals like Journal of Financial Economics and Review of Financial Studies . He has advised major institutions including Hong Kong Monetary Authority, World Bank, and China Construction Bank. Awards include the Jensen Prize (2011), Nobel nomination (2016), and honorary professorships from Edinburgh and Berkeley. Grants coordination includes HK$24.4 million FinTech project (2020-2025) and leadership roles in research centers like HKU’s Financial Innovation & Development Centre. Active in editorial roles for Management Science and policy advisory groups. Media engagements include BBC, Bloomberg, and Harvard Law School forums. Current initiatives focus on Web3.0 development in HK and financial inclusion strategies.
Susan Wachter is a Professor of Financial Management and Professor of Real Estate at the University of Pennsylvania's Stuart Weitzman School of Design and Wharton School. She has held academic positions since 1972, including roles as Chair of the Real Estate Department and Co-director of the Penn Institute for Urban Research. Her research focuses on urban economics, housing finance, climate risk, and public policy. She serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Housing Economics and has advised organizations such as the National Research Council and the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. Wachter earned her academic credentials at Bryn Mawr College and held a visiting professorship at Singapore Management University. Her awards include the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (1975) and the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Lifetime Achievement Award (2005). Her work explores topics like mortgage market stability, climate impacts on housing, and equitable housing finance systems. Research Highlights: Climate risk in mortgage markets, pandemic-era housing dynamics, foreign buyer tax impacts, and systemic financial stability. Policy Contributions: Advised on housing finance reforms, GSE viability, and fair housing policy modernization. Grants & Labs: Directed the Wharton Geographical Information Systems Lab since 1995, focusing on urban spatial analytics. Her publications span over four decades, addressing topics such as mortgage stress, urban competitiveness, and the legacy of the 2008 housing bubble. Wachter's interdisciplinary approach bridges real estate finance, public policy, and urban planning to inform sustainable housing solutions.
Andrew Plantinga is a Professor of Natural Resource Economics and Policy at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, UC Santa Barbara. He also serves as Director of the Productive Landscapes Group at the Environmental Markets Solution Lab (emLab). His academic journey includes faculty roles at Oregon State University and the University of Maine before joining UCSB in 2012. He holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Berkeley, an MS in Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, and a BA in English from Grinnell College. Plantinga’s research focuses on the economics of land use, climate change, and forests. Key areas include econometric modeling of land-use decisions, environmental policy analysis, and wildfire risk management. A current NSF-funded project examines how wildfire salience influences public agency decisions. He emphasizes tradable property rights for groundwater management and has authored/co-authored over 80 journal articles, including high-impact publications in Journal of Environmental Economics and Management and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . His work frequently addresses policy implications of land-use changes, such as urban growth boundaries and agricultural intensification. Recent studies explore wildfire management effectiveness, stranded public lands’ economic impacts, and carbon sequestration costs. Plantinga advises PhD students focusing on economics, including Linus Blomqvist. Grants include NSF support for wildfire policy analysis. He teaches Bren School courses like Natural Resource Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis. His labs and collaborations, such as emLab, aim to bridge economic and ecological approaches to environmental challenges.
