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Welcome to the Princeton Department of Economics. Visit us at https://economics.princeton.edu/

10/22/2026

Last month, Princeton Professor of Economics and Public Affairs Owen Zidar discussed his new book, "The Everywhere Millionaire: Who Is Really Rich in America and How They Got There," at an event hosted by the Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies, Industrial Relations Section, and Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance.

Co-authored with Eric Zwick, the book highlights the often overlooked fortunes of private business owners and what their success reveals about entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the conversation! Watch the full discussion here: https://bit.ly/4jz6zsW

10/21/2026

Congratulations to Princeton Economics’ 2026 Junior Prize winners: Sofia Arora (1st place), Jerry Zhu (2nd place), and Ivy Chen (3rd place)!

Each year, the Economics Department recognizes outstanding academic achievement in challenging coursework and independent research through its Junior Prizes. This year’s recipients explored a diverse range of economic questions through their independent work, ranging from the impact of deforestation in the DRC, to welfare in matching markets, and effects of abortion restrictions on community college enrollment.

Congratulations to Sofia, Jerry, and Ivy on this well-deserved recognition! Read more about their research and advice here: https://bit.ly/4yvxsS6

10/20/2026

A new paper by Princeton Assistant Professor Daniel Chen, published in American Economic Review, explores the relationship between consumer attention, digital platforms, and targeted advertising.

In "A Model of the Attention Economy: Data, Platforms, and Discovery," Chen develops an economic model examining how platforms invest in free services to attract users, use consumer data to sell targeted advertisements, and influence which products consumers discover.

His research highlights how the effects of data regulation and competition policies can evolve over time, offering new insights into the economics of digital markets.

Read more about the research here: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20240651

10/18/2026

The Princeton Economics community recently came together to celebrate Associate Professor of Economics Ellora Derenoncourt on being named a 2026 MacArthur Fellow!

Derenoncourt, Director of Princeton’s Program for Research on Inequality, received the prestigious fellowship in recognition of her research uncovering the historical roots of racial disparities in economic mobility in the United States.

Faculty and colleagues gathered to toast this incredible achievement and recognize Derenoncourt’s contributions to the field.

Congratulations again Professor Derenoncourt!

10/15/2026

Ernest Liu, Associate Professor of Economics, delivered last night's Fall Department-Wide Seminar on the topic of geopolitics.

Liu shared research from his recent paper "A Network Approach to Geopolitics," co-authored by Stephen Redding, Bennett Smith-Worthington, and David Yang.

10/14/2026

Last week, Princeton Economics hosted Vanessa Williamson, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, for a book talk on "The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History."

The discussion explored the historical relationship between taxation and democracy in the United States, examining how tax policy has shaped political participation and the exercise of democratic power.

The event was co-sponsored by the Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies, Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance, Center for the Study of Democratic Politics, and Economic History Workshop.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the conversation!

10/12/2026

Princeton Economics is pleased to welcome Elena Manresa to the faculty as a Professor of Economics!

Manresa’s research focuses on econometrics, particularly microeconometrics and financial econometrics. Her work develops methods for understanding heterogeneity in economic data, with applications ranging from household saving behavior to worker mobility and earnings across firms.

Manresa is also an affiliated faculty member of Princeton’s Gregory C. Chow Econometric Research Program.

“I’m very excited to join the Department of Economics and become part of such a stimulating academic community,” Manresa shared. “I’m especially excited about the conversations, research, and new ideas that lie ahead.”

Read more about her research here: https://bit.ly/4hHOkQJ

10/11/2026

Congratulations to Princeton Associate Professor of Economics Ellora Derenoncourt, a 2026 MacArthur Fellow!

Derenoncourt, who directs Princeton’s Program for Research on Inequality, was recognized for her work uncovering the historical roots of racial disparities in wealth and economic mobility in the US. Her research spans labor economics to economic history, using historical evidence and data to examine the policies shaping disparities in economic opportunity.

“I’m honored to receive the fellowship,” shared Derenoncourt. “There is more work to be done to understand the drivers of inequality and more to be learned from history about how to foster a just economy.

Derenoncourt is one of 20 MacArthur fellows selected this year. Read more about the fellowship and her research here: https://bit.ly/4dyIXki

09/30/2026

Princeton economists Owen Zidar and Alan Blinder came together at Labyrinth Books on September 16 for a conversation about Zidar’s new book "The Everywhere Millionaire: Who Is Really Rich in America and How They Got There."

Drawing on a decade of research with his co-author Eric Zwick, Zidar discussed how many of America’s wealthiest individuals built their fortunes through privately owned businesses across the country. Following Zidar’s opening remarks, Blinder led a Q&A exploring entrepreneurship, the distribution of economic success, and more.

This event was co-sponsored by the Princeton Public Library, Princeton University’s Department of Economics, and Labyrinth Books. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the conversation!

09/29/2026

Princeton Economics is pleased to welcome Will Dobbie to the department as a Professor of Economics!

Dobbie, whose first teaching appointment was with Princeton from 2013 to 2019, returns after serving as a tenured professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. His research examines the causes and consequences of poverty in America, with recent work exploring economic mobility, racial and class disparities, and the role of AI in the criminal justice system.

“Princeton is such a special place for economics; I am very excited to rejoin this group of peers whom I have admired and enjoyed working with for so long. I am also looking forward to teaching and learning from the students of the Department.”

Welcome back to Princeton, Professor! Read more about Dobbie's research here: https://bit.ly/4rEYYuW

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