Four internationally respected economists are joining the University of Chicago’s Department of Economics, adding to the department’s strengths in economic theory, new analysis tools, the economics of energy policy and the study of social issues.
The new faculty members bring additional scholarly specialties to the department, which includes five current faculty members who are Nobel laureates.
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Stephane Bonhomme, who joined UChicago in November 2013 as professor of economics, is a leading expert on microeconometrics. His research involves econometric modeling of unobserved heterogeneity and panel data, and its applications in labor economics, in particular the analysis of earnings inequality and dynamics.
A native of France, Bonhomme served as professor of economics at the Center for Monetary and Financial Studies in Madrid from 2010 to 2013, and assistant professor at New York University from 2009 and 2010. He received his master’s degree in macroeconomics and his PhD in economics from the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.
“Stephane’s recent research combines his expertise in panel data econometrics with new advances in statistics to allow economists to account for concerns that individuals not only differ in unobserved ways, but that these differences may change over time,” said Azeem Shaikh, professor of economics and a Thornber Research Fellow.
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Magne Mogstad from Norway began his appointment as assistant professor in January. Before coming to UChicago, he taught economics at the University College of London from 2011 to 2013. Mogstad’s research focuses on applied microeconomics, mostly in the areas of labor economics and public economics. He is an associate editor of the Economic Journal and the principal investigator of a major research grant that is studying the causes and consequences of the rise in disability insurance payments.
“Magne has creatively used simple, transparent and empirical methods to examine and explain complex social issues affecting families,” said Brent Hickman, assistant professor of economics and co-director of graduate admissions in the department.
Mogstad graduated with a PhD in economics from the University of Oslo, and in 2011 he received the Sandmo Prize, which is awarded annually to an especially promising Norwegian economist under the age of 40.
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Felix Tintelnot, a German citizen who specializes in international trade and industrial organization, has been appointed assistant professor of economics. His appointment will be effective in July 2014, after he completes a one-year International Economics Section Fellowship at Princeton University. Tintelnot received his PhD in economics from Pennsylvania State University and his Diploma in economics with distinction from Free University Berlin.
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In late 2013 the department also announced the appointment of Michael Greenstone, an international leader in energy and environmental economics, as professor of economics and director of the interdisciplinary Energy Policy Institute at Chicago. His appointment will start July 1.
“These new appointments reflect our faculty’s ambitions for continuing to develop our world-renowned program,” said John List, chairman of the Economics Department and Homer J. Livingston Professor of Economics and the College. “We are recruiting the best economists in the world to join us here at Chicago—where they can continue our proud tradition of pushing the frontiers of economics.”
List pointed out the tremendous number of breakthroughs in economics that were connected with UChicago throughout the 20th century. “With the additions of these and other leading experts in various areas of economics, we want to ensure that the 21st century is as successful as the 20th. We will continue to work hard to recruit the best minds to continue our tradition of excellence,” he said.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
