Secular pragmatism or messianic nationalism: the choice that will shape Israel’s future People frequently ask me what’s going on in Israel. Here is my take. Israel’s right to exist is not the question First, I have no doubt about Israel’s right to exist as a state. Most countries were built through conflict and the transfer […]
Israel at a Crossroads Read More »
I was very saddened to learn about the death of Andy Schmitz on October 8, 2026. Andy was a mentor, a colleague, and a friend, and I owe him a lot, both as a scholar and as a person. He was extremely important to me when I was a graduate student and a young faculty
Remembering Andy Schmitz Read More »
For more than two decades, the Galbraith Award and lecture have been a major feature of the summer meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, or AAEA. At this event, a leading scholar, usually an economist, delivers a lecture presenting new ideas and methods and exploring their relevance to agricultural economists. The annual T.W.
The Origin of the Galbraith Award Read More »
For the past five years, I have traveled to Texas A&M in college Station to collaborate with the ag econ people there. I have served on dissertation committees, worked with devoted students, and published several papers with them. One, on climate change, is among the best papers I have produced in recent years. These visits have
Between Berkeley, CA and College Station, TX Read More »
Last week, I participated in a workshop sponsored by the International Association of Agricultural Economists at Oxford honoring the late Uma Lele. The workshop made me appreciate what a creative, dynamic, and consequential agricultural economist she was. It also gave me an opportunity to stay at Christ Church College, and think about universities, tradition, excellence,
Empowerment, development and generosity-Remembering Uma Lele at Oxford Read More »
Professor Eithan Hochman of the Hebrew University, a graduate of our department at Berkeley, a frequent visitor to Berkeley, and a collaborator and friend of many of us, passed away in Rehovot, Israel, at the age of 95. Eithan was an important part of my life for more than fifty years, and in many ways,
Remembering Eithan Hochman: Scholar, Mentor, Adventurer, and Friend Read More »
The emergence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the mid-1990s raised major questions. What would their impact be on yields, costs, profitability, pesticide use, and the environment? Who would benefit from the technology, and who might lose? How should intellectual property rights be managed? What were the implications for international trade, and what role would
Combining Knowledge with Fun in Ravello Read More »
When I was eight years old, my father began taking me to synagogue on Shabbat. We were living in Israel, and my family was what Israelis called traditional. We did not drive on the Sabbath or light a fire, though we did turn electric lights on and off. My father went to the synagogue every
The Encyclopedia That Gave Me a Choice Read More »
I was introduced to Carl Pray by Doug Parker. At the time, I was working on a paper on the political economy of agricultural research, and I spoke with Carl about some of the ideas behind it. We discussed the possibilities for government support of research and the extent to which such research should be
Carl Pray: A Friend and a Wise Scholar Read More »
Around 1985, a large, imposing, energetic man walked into my office and began telling me about his research on technology adoption and farm-system choices. He introduced himself as Bruce McCarl from Oregon State. I had just finished a paper on adoption, and I was embarrassed that I had ignored his work. So I read some
Bruce McCarl: An Unsung Hero of Climate Change Economics Read More »