*Originally Posted on May 18, 2015 Every year during graduation season, I encounter many students who are nervous about the job market. Surprisingly, many worry not only about their technical qualifications, but that they don’t look the part. Some of these students probably listen to the media and studies that have found that good-looking men […]
The Fenigstein Effect Read More »
*Originally Posted on June 15, 2013 I enjoy getting calls from my children on Father’s day. I actually get upset if I don’t hearfrom them on my birthday (or least a post on my Facebook wall). We didn’t have Father’sday when I was growing up and I don’t remember celebrating my own Father’s birthday.No doubt
Happy Father’s Day, Dad Read More »
*Originally posted on March 16, 2013 Recently I learned one of my dear colleagues, Bob Evenson from Yale University, passed away. Bob grew up on a farm in the Minnesota and got his PhD at the University of Chicago. He became a leading development economist, and taught for more than 30 years mostly at Yale.
Bob Evenson: An economist with heart Read More »
*Originally posted on November 23, 2009 As the world is preparing for a big environmental summit in Copenhagen, knowing that an agreement is very unlikely, it’s become apparent how difficult it is to reach an environmental agreement that can stick and change the course of history. People that can bring about such agreement are really
Tom Graff: A practical environmental visionary Read More »
*Originally posted October 19, 2009 I got a kick out of learning that Eleanor Ostrom and Berkeley’s Oliver Williamson won the Nobel in Economics. I had a similar response when the Psychologist, Dan Kahneman, won the prize. These are important steps in the expansion of economics and establishing an integrated social science based on rigorous
The New Nobels: Small steps toward integrated social science 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 »
On January 1, 2026, I will formally retire and transition to Professor of the Graduate School (POG). While my pension will cover my salary, I will continue to maintain an office at Berkeley, manage my research grants, and supervise graduate students. The practical effects of this transition are modest: I will no longer teach large
Transitioning from Professor to Professor of the Graduate School (POG) Read More »
The year 2025 was marked by continuity and change—personally and professionally. It was a year of deepening connections with family as the next generation grows, and defines its own paths, continued teaching and mentorship at Berkeley, and engagement with colleagues across continents. My golden years are still golden When you are young, you dread old
My Annual Review – 2025 Read More »