The University Of Chicago

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About
- - - About the Becker Friedman Institute
      The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) serves as a hub for cutting-edge analysis and research across the entire University of Chicago economics community, uniting researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the...
    - Our Legacy
      Inspired by our namesakes, Nobel Laureates Gary Becker and Milton Friedman, who believed that economics research could help improve the world, BFI works with the Chicago Economics community to turn its evidence-based research into real-world impact.
  - - Pre-Doctoral Research Professionals
      The Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. The program offers unique research and professional training opportunities at the University of Chicago.
    - Expanding Discovery in Economics+
      Expanding Discovery in Economics+ (EDE+) brings together a diverse group of early undergraduate students to hone their research abilities and technical skills.
Network
Scholars
Research
- - - Social Dynamics of AI Adoption
      Leonardo Bursztyn, Alex Imas, Rafael Jiménez-Durán, Aaron Leonard, and Christopher Roth
      Anxiety about falling behind can drive people to embrace emerging technologies with uncertain consequences. We study how social forces shape demand for AI-based learning tools early in the education pipeline. In incentivized experiments with parents—key gatekeepers for children’s AI adoption—we...
      Do Test Scores Misrepresent Test Results? An Item-by-Item Analysis
      Jesse Bruhn, Michael Gilraine, Jens Ludwig, and Sendhil Mullainathan
      Much of the data collected in education is effectively thrown away. Students answer individual test questions, but administrators and researchers only see aggregate performance. All the item-level data are lost. Ex ante it is not clear this destroys much useful...
      Complexity Theory and Economic Inequality
      Steven Durlauf, David McMillon, and Scott Page
      We analyze the potential for complexity theory to produce insights that elucidate the evolution of socioeconomic inequality and point toward effective policies. We position complexity theory as a complement to more traditional economic approaches. Economic models of inequality can fall...
- - - View All
Insights
- - - Research Briefs
      The Mortgage Debt Channel of Monetary Policy when Mortgages are Liquid
      Closing Early Math Gaps by Parental Education with Technology at Home
      Debt and Assets
    - View All
  - - BFI Data Studio
      Unlocking the Power of Markets as a New Tool for Regulating Pollution
      Explore Historical Manufacturing Data
      The Hidden Volatility of American Workers’ Paychecks
    - View All
  - - Podcasts
      Liberalism and the Great Enrichment: Why Ideas, Not Capital, Made the Modern World
      Economics for Everyone: Teaching the World to Think Like an Economist
      You Might Also Like: Farmer’s A.I. Manac, from Shocked
    - View All
  - - Videos
      
      BFI Youtube Channel
      Captivating and informative videos on the latest insights and trends as well as the tested stock of knowledge in economics from leaders in academia, policy, business, and the media.
Events
- - - Upcoming Events
      Nov 21
      Development Lunch Workshop – Fall 2025
      Nov 21
      University of Chicago-Northwestern China Afternoon Workshop
      Nov 21
      Fall 2025 Trade and Spatial Afternoons Seminar Series
    - View All
News
- - - Search

Economic Research Brief Monthly Rollups

A monthly digest highlighting key research and insights from the Becker Friedman Institute. Each edition offers a snapshot of recent economic findings and timely policy-relevant analysis from UChicago scholars.

April 2025 May 2025 June 2025 July 2025 August 2025

September 2025 October 2025 November 2025

About
- - - About the Becker Friedman Institute
      The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) serves as a hub for cutting-edge analysis and research across the entire University of Chicago economics community, uniting researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the...
    - Our Legacy
      Inspired by our namesakes, Nobel Laureates Gary Becker and Milton Friedman, who believed that economics research could help improve the world, BFI works with the Chicago Economics community to turn its evidence-based research into real-world impact.
  - - Pre-Doctoral Research Professionals
      The Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. The program offers unique research and professional training opportunities at the University of Chicago.
    - Expanding Discovery in Economics+
      Expanding Discovery in Economics+ (EDE+) brings together a diverse group of early undergraduate students to hone their research abilities and technical skills.
Network
Scholars
Research
- - - Social Dynamics of AI Adoption
      Leonardo Bursztyn, Alex Imas, Rafael Jiménez-Durán, Aaron Leonard, and Christopher Roth
      Anxiety about falling behind can drive people to embrace emerging technologies with uncertain consequences. We study how social forces shape demand for AI-based learning tools early in the education pipeline. In incentivized experiments with parents—key gatekeepers for children’s AI adoption—we...
      Do Test Scores Misrepresent Test Results? An Item-by-Item Analysis
      Jesse Bruhn, Michael Gilraine, Jens Ludwig, and Sendhil Mullainathan
      Much of the data collected in education is effectively thrown away. Students answer individual test questions, but administrators and researchers only see aggregate performance. All the item-level data are lost. Ex ante it is not clear this destroys much useful...
      Complexity Theory and Economic Inequality
      Steven Durlauf, David McMillon, and Scott Page
      We analyze the potential for complexity theory to produce insights that elucidate the evolution of socioeconomic inequality and point toward effective policies. We position complexity theory as a complement to more traditional economic approaches. Economic models of inequality can fall...
- - - View All
Insights
- - - Research Briefs
      The Mortgage Debt Channel of Monetary Policy when Mortgages are Liquid
      Closing Early Math Gaps by Parental Education with Technology at Home
      Debt and Assets
    - View All
  - - BFI Data Studio
      Unlocking the Power of Markets as a New Tool for Regulating Pollution
      Explore Historical Manufacturing Data
      The Hidden Volatility of American Workers’ Paychecks
    - View All
  - - Podcasts
      Liberalism and the Great Enrichment: Why Ideas, Not Capital, Made the Modern World
      Economics for Everyone: Teaching the World to Think Like an Economist
      You Might Also Like: Farmer’s A.I. Manac, from Shocked
    - View All
  - - Videos
      
      BFI Youtube Channel
      Captivating and informative videos on the latest insights and trends as well as the tested stock of knowledge in economics from leaders in academia, policy, business, and the media.
Events
- - - Upcoming Events
      Nov 21
      Development Lunch Workshop – Fall 2025
      Nov 21
      University of Chicago-Northwestern China Afternoon Workshop
      Nov 21
      Fall 2025 Trade and Spatial Afternoons Seminar Series
    - View All
News
- - - Search

Info For
Subscribe
- Join Our Weekly Briefing Newsletter
- Newsletter Archive

Search

Research Briefs

BFI Data Studio

Podcasts

Videos

Upcoming Events

Development Lunch Workshop – Fall 2025

University of Chicago-Northwestern China Afternoon Workshop

Fall 2025 Trade and Spatial Afternoons Seminar Series