Economics

Three MIT economics doctoral students selected as among the world's most promising

All the difference in the worldIn new book, economists Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson assert that above all else, political institutions — not culture or natural resources — determine the wealth of nations.

Development economist Alice Amsden dies at 68MIT professor was a prolific scholar who wrote extensively about industrialization in emerging economies.

Inequality offensiveAt MIT forum, economists evaluate the consequences of increasing inequality in America, and suggest solutions.

Fuel for thoughtEconomist Christopher Knittel uncovers surprising facts about the cars we drive — and about the price of gas.

Game onAs MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference kicks off, scholars and fans have produced a growing avalanche of quantitative research.

Our complex food future and how to respondToday’s global challenges will significantly affect how we grow our food. But these challenges are so complex and intertwined that response measures require collaboration and a broad, integrated lens.

Scientists: This man has your numberPierre Azoulay knows why scientists thrive, flounder and have bursts of creativity — and he has the numbers to back it up.

Q&A with Rosalind Williams on history in the age of human empireNew book examines the critical juncture when human endeavors began to dominate the planet.

When (and where) work disappearsStudy: Overseas manufacturing competition hits U.S. regions hard, leaving workers unemployed for years and local economies struggling.

Principles of Microeconomics now available in MIT OpenCourseWare’s innovative OCW Scholar format14.01SC is the third of seven courses OCW will publish this spring specifically to meet the needs of independent learners.

Jens Hainmueller: A 'numbers' guy takes on pressing public policy issuesPolitical science associate professor ties together qualitative and quantitative ways of thinking about politics and society.

Ashley Finan: Developing better policy for energy innovation

Putting lab life under the lensEconomist Scott Stern advances the scientific study of, well, scientists.

MIT faculty speak at the World Economic Forum in DavosTalks explore the mind/machine interface and the science of predicting the economy, among other topics.

Said and Done for January 2012The humanities, arts and social sciences monthly digest.

Gender spendersStudy suggests yet another cause of personal debt: searching for the ideal mate.

The cost of tropical cyclonesNew model finds climate change could expose North America, East Asia and the Caribbean to costly hurricane damage.

Leading by exampleStudy: The presence of female politicians boosts aspirations, educational achievement of young women.

Knittel named first energy faculty chair at MIT

The case of the missing gas mileageAutomakers have made great strides in fuel efficiency in recent decades — but the mileage numbers of individual vehicles have barely increased. An MIT economist explains the conundrum.

Nobel laureate: Long path to economic renewal, but energy innovation could help

Kaitlyn Nealon named to Capital One Academic All-America Women's Soccer TeamSophomore defender becomes fourth player in the history of the women's soccer program to earn honor.

Rebuilding American manufacturingWhite House working group convenes at MIT to examine how new technologies can create economic growth and more jobs in the United States.

Lucas Papademos ’70, SM ’72, PhD ’78 named prime minister of Greece