The year 2020 was the worst year I can recall. The pandemic that emerged in January accelerated during the late winter and early spring, stabilized in the summer, and remerged with cooler temperatures. We’ve had more than 300,000 fatalities in the US and close to 2 million globally, and the toll is rising. In addition, […]
My Annual Review: 2020 A Terrible Year With a Promising Ending Read More »
In this year of the election, pandemic, and general mayhem, we still have a lot to be grateful for. First, Americans voted to avoid the lure of a false Messiah (a charismatic and egocentric exploiter of grievances and purveyor of false hopes) – and chose democracy and sanity. Second, Joe Biden as president-elect. He was
There is a lot to be grateful for, even this year Read More »
When I was young, I was fascinated by leaders like Churchill, Ben-Gurion, Gandhi, and even the two Roosevelts, who changed history. As I grew up, I realized that leadership occurs in business, academia, sports, and family life. When we started the BEAHRS Environmental Leadership Program , we targeted up-and-coming training leaders and needed to develop
Lessons from Gordon C. Rausser on Leadership and Persistence Read More »
This last year was mostly a good year. Professionally, I gained a triple crown: I was awarded the Wolf prize for agriculture, became a member of the US National Academy of Sciences (USNAS), and became president of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA). My grandchildren are growing and Leorah and I are enjoying this
My Annual Review: 2019 A Year of Recognition and Transition Read More »
After three failed campaigns, I was elected and served as president of the AAEA from July 2018 to July 2019. I expected the job to be about organizing meetings, fund raising, and writing letters to the membership, but I encountered a much more significant challenge. The US president’s budget proposed to cut 40% of the
Presidents come and go: The AAEA is resilient and thriving Read More »
On May 30 I received the Wolf Prize in Agriculture in Jerusalem . It is considered the “Nobel Prize” of agriculture and mathematics. Many of the Wolf Prize laureates in Medicine and Chemistry go on to receive the Nobel Prize. I was honored and humbled to get the prize – especially because I am the
On receiving the Wolf Prize and on the scholar as an intellectual athlete Read More »
I am frequently asked whether students should work before going to graduate school. Of course, no single answer fits all, but I owe much of my success to the experience I gained working before graduate school. I grew up in a low-income family in Israel and went to a warm and friendly neighborhood school, then
The gains from working before starting a graduate program Read More »
Last week, I learned that I was awarded the Wolf Prize in Agriculture. I wondered what had enabled a kid that grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Jerusalem to receive this award from the Israeli president. Of course, there are the usual suspects – loving and supportive parents and family, excellent primary and secondary
On the contributions of mentors and role models Read More »
Towards the end of every year I post a summary of my personal and professional activities. They are intertwined. I hope this summary is enlightening to people who are interested in the university, its people and their ideas. I discuss first personal aspects, and then move to research and academic activities. I am 71 and
My annual review 2018 Read More »
This year we lost Peter Berck, a prominent member of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) and the College of Natural Resources as well as a cherished friend and colleague of mine. Peter was born in New York, fell in love with Berkeley as an undergraduate and after completing his Ph.D. at MIT,
Peter Berck RIP — a distinguished scholar and member of the ARE family Read More »