The Becker Brown Bag Series was created to provide an informal setting in which prominent economists can present cutting-edge research and engage MBA students in discussion. The talks highlight the practical use of economics for answering real-world questions pertinent to businesses and policy makers.
While the Becker Brown Bag Series is directed towards current MBA students, alumni, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. Brown Bags occur one to two times per quarter, with most events being held in Room 104 at Chicago Booth’s Charles M. Harper Center. Lunch is provided.
Agenda
Soda Taxes and Soda Prices: The Case of Mexico
In Search of Historical Perspective on the Modern Economic Environment
In this talk, Richard Hornbeck explored how economies grow and adapt by drawing lessons from the historical development of the American economy. Much of economics is concerned with why some places are poor and some are rich, which is closely related to why some places became rich and some remained poor. His research uses particular historical episodes to better understand issues related to this central theme within economics, as history often provides unique opportunities to understand economic adaptation and growth.
2016 Becker Brown Bag with Richard Hornbeck
Hornbeck touched on some common themes: how enforcement of property rights encourages growth and transaction costs constrain growth; the magnitude of productivity spillovers across firms and their impacts on workers; impacts of market integration; how the economy adapts to a changing environment; and general adaptation to labor or capital scarcity. In addressing these topics, he considered how economic behavior and the natural environment combine to shape economic outcomes.
