Economics

What’s the cost and financial value of college?At MIT, experts say evidence shows the payoff from college education remains high.

Duflo, Lander, Lewin to lead spring-semester MITx coursesEdX takes stock of last semester’s MITx courses; data will be used to improve education online and in the classroom.

Why some immigrants get citizenshipStudy: Country of origin a 'massive disadvantage' for some immigrants, regardless of qualifications.

Hard times in ChicagoMIT anthropologist’s new book recounts the painful aftermath when steel plants suddenly closed in the American heartland.

The high value of waterStudy: People willing to pay more for running water report much higher levels of happiness when they have it.

The natural experimenter

President Obama announces intent to appoint Esther Duflo to Global Development CouncilMIT development economist nominated for presidential policy council.

The health-insurance markets of the (very near) futurePolicymakers must address ‘tension’ between competition and ease of use.

Study: At most a third of us show a consistent approach to financial riskEmpirically rich new study finds most people alter their risk-management approach depending on the type of financial decision.

Said and Done for November/December 2012Digest of humanities, arts and social sciences

From the water to WashingtonMIT senior Noam Angrist works to reform education and health care through youth mentorship and economics.

Three awards for MIT research in anthropology, economics and political scienceMikusheva receives Elaine Bennett Research Prize; Petersen wins Distinguished Book Award; Helmreich wins Rachel Carson Prize.

How Jonathan Gruber became ‘Mr. Mandate’An MIT economist’s path to the center of health-care policymaking in Washington.

Said and Done for September 2012Digest of MIT humanities, arts, and social sciences.

The economic cost of increased temperaturesStudy: Warming episodes hurt poor countries and limit long-term growth.

Study: Many Americans die with ‘virtually no financial assets’Innovative research shows large divergence in retirement saving outcomes, with the single elderly faring worse than married couples.

Why cutting-edge medical technology may not lead to exploding health care costsNew study finds growth of advanced imaging slowed amid financial, medical concerns.

Five MIT researchers win presidential early career honorsJarillo-Herrero, Lu, Pathak, Sinha and Thaler among 96 winners.

Said and Done for June/July 2012Digest of MIT humanities, arts and social sciences

Economist Robert Townsend wins Frisch MedalPrestigious prize granted for research on Thailand’s villages.

Computer science tackles 30-year-old economics problemMIT researchers generalize Nobel winner’s work on single-item auctions to auctions involving multiple items.

Economists find evidence for famous hypothesis of ‘comparative advantage’Why do nations trade goods instead of producing more themselves? An old theory, that countries specialize in the products they make well, may be on the money.

Josh Shifrinson: decline of power playMilitary strategy for a declining United States in a complex world

No crystal ball for natural gasTraditionally, oil prices have been used to gauge the natural gas market; but new research shows that the future of what is currently a cheap fuel is really anyone's guess.

Andrea Campbell: Public opinion and policy viewed through an historical lensProfessor studies taxation, Social Security, health insurance and more.

Taking creditWhen Thailand’s government started offering microfinance loans to villagers, did anyone benefit? An MIT economist investigates.

Studying school quality, to fight inequalityNew MIT center examines education and its lifelong effects.