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Becker Friedman Institute for Economics
  • 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.
        • Visitors & Fellows
        • Our Team
        • BFI Employment Opportunities
        • Contact
  • Network
        • Research Initiatives
          • Big Data Initiative
          • Health Economics Initiative
          • Industrial Organization Initiative
          • International Economics and Economic Geography Initiative
          • Macroeconomic Research Initiative
          • Political Economics Initiative
          • Price Theory Initiative
          • Public Economics Initiative
          • Ronzetti Initiative for the Study of Labor Markets
          • Socioeconomic Inequalities Initiative
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        • Global Initiatives
          • BFI-China
          • BFI-Latin America
          • Tata Centre for Development
        • View All caret-right
        • Programs & Centers
          • Development Economics Center
          • Expanding Discovery in Economics+ (EDE+)
          • Experimental Economics Program
          • Global Center for Economic Growth - Growth Academy
          • Gracias Center for Human Sciences and Well-Being
          • Macro Finance Research Program
          • Program in Behavioral Economics Research
          • TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health
        • View All caret-right
  • Scholars
    • UChicago Scholars
    • Visiting Scholars
    • Saieh Family Fellows
    • Predoctoral Research Professionals
  • Research
        • When Food Stamps Became Free: Impacts and Implications of Removing the Purchase Requirement
          Amy Finkelstein, Matthew Notowidigdo, and Charlie Rafkin

          We analyze the food stamp program both as a potential investment in children’s health capital and as a redistributive tool by studying the 1979 reform that made food stamps free. We leverage geographic variation in exposure to the reform, which...

          Policy Evaluation Beyond Significance Testing: Evidence from Chicago’s ShotSpotter Contract
          Terence Chau, Philip J. Cook, Javier Lopez, Jens Ludwig, Alejandro Roemer, and Adam K. Soliman

          Program impact estimates that are not statistically significant are often treated as providing little guidance for policy choice, even when economically important effects remain plausible. In such cases, the decision-relevant task is not simply to test whether the effect differs...

          The Economics of Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: A Contribution to the COP30 Presidency Roadmap
          Robin Burgess and Michael Greenstone

          At COP28 in Dubai, 198 countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels (TAFF) in energy systems “in a just, orderly and equitable manner” (UNFCCC 2024). The COP30 Presidency has developed a roadmap of concrete actions towards this goal, with...

        • View All caret-right
  • Insights
        • Research Briefs

          Gains from Trade in Gun Policy: A Compensation-Based Benchmark
          Capital-Skill Complementarity Beyond Firm Boundaries
          Crime in Covid Times
        • View All caret-right
        • BFI Data Studio

          Sticky Wage Norms and the Real Wage Cost of Unexpected Inflation
          The Impact of Pay Period Reporting on Improper Redeterminations for Medicaid: Problems and Implications for Implementation
          Carbon Prices, Forest Conservation and Reforestation in the Brazilian Amazon
        • View All caret-right
        • Podcasts

          Faster Food: Why Restaurant Productivity Finally Surged
          Do Age Verification Laws Work? Evidence from Adult Websites
          The Everywhere Millionaire: Who’s Really Rich in America
        • View All caret-right
        • Videos

          BFI Youtube Channel external
          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 10

          BFI x Sadie Collective Student Lunch Series: Race, Labor Market Inequality, and the Future of Work

          Nov 13

          Fall 2026 Development Lunch Workshop

          Nov 16

          Fall 2026 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

        • View All caret-right
  • News
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Bringing together UChicago scholars around common themes to support the highest caliber research

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Organization
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International Economics and Economic Geography Initiative

Macroeconomic
Research
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Political
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Price
Theory
Initiative

Public
Economics
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Ronzetti Initiative
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Socioeconomic Inequalities
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Affiliates, Centers, and Programs

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Projects

  • Behavioral Implications of Uncertainty in Macroeconomics (BUMP)
  • Economic Implications of COVID-19
  • Financial Market Oversight and Regulation
  • Housing, Household Debt, and the Macroeconomy
  • MFM / Macro Financial Modeling Project
  • Project on Foundational Research in Health Care Markets and Policies
  • The Monetary and Fiscal History of Latin America
  • University of Chicago Joint Program in Financial Economics
  • Wealth250
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© 2026 Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago

  • 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.
        • Visitors & Fellows
        • Our Team
        • BFI Employment Opportunities
        • Contact
  • Network
        • Research Initiatives
          • Big Data Initiative
          • Health Economics Initiative
          • Industrial Organization Initiative
          • International Economics and Economic Geography Initiative
          • Macroeconomic Research Initiative
          • Political Economics Initiative
          • Price Theory Initiative
          • Public Economics Initiative
          • Ronzetti Initiative for the Study of Labor Markets
          • Socioeconomic Inequalities Initiative
        • View All caret-right
        • Global Initiatives
          • BFI-China
          • BFI-Latin America
          • Tata Centre for Development
        • View All caret-right
        • Programs & Centers
          • Development Economics Center
          • Expanding Discovery in Economics+ (EDE+)
          • Experimental Economics Program
          • Global Center for Economic Growth - Growth Academy
          • Gracias Center for Human Sciences and Well-Being
          • Macro Finance Research Program
          • Program in Behavioral Economics Research
          • TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health
        • View All caret-right
  • Scholars
    • UChicago Scholars
    • Visiting Scholars
    • Saieh Family Fellows
    • Predoctoral Research Professionals
  • Research
        • When Food Stamps Became Free: Impacts and Implications of Removing the Purchase Requirement
          Amy Finkelstein, Matthew Notowidigdo, and Charlie Rafkin

          We analyze the food stamp program both as a potential investment in children’s health capital and as a redistributive tool by studying the 1979 reform that made food stamps free. We leverage geographic variation in exposure to the reform, which...

          Policy Evaluation Beyond Significance Testing: Evidence from Chicago’s ShotSpotter Contract
          Terence Chau, Philip J. Cook, Javier Lopez, Jens Ludwig, Alejandro Roemer, and Adam K. Soliman

          Program impact estimates that are not statistically significant are often treated as providing little guidance for policy choice, even when economically important effects remain plausible. In such cases, the decision-relevant task is not simply to test whether the effect differs...

          The Economics of Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: A Contribution to the COP30 Presidency Roadmap
          Robin Burgess and Michael Greenstone

          At COP28 in Dubai, 198 countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels (TAFF) in energy systems “in a just, orderly and equitable manner” (UNFCCC 2024). The COP30 Presidency has developed a roadmap of concrete actions towards this goal, with...

        • View All caret-right
  • Insights
        • Research Briefs

          Gains from Trade in Gun Policy: A Compensation-Based Benchmark
          Capital-Skill Complementarity Beyond Firm Boundaries
          Crime in Covid Times
        • View All caret-right
        • BFI Data Studio

          Sticky Wage Norms and the Real Wage Cost of Unexpected Inflation
          The Impact of Pay Period Reporting on Improper Redeterminations for Medicaid: Problems and Implications for Implementation
          Carbon Prices, Forest Conservation and Reforestation in the Brazilian Amazon
        • View All caret-right
        • Podcasts

          Faster Food: Why Restaurant Productivity Finally Surged
          Do Age Verification Laws Work? Evidence from Adult Websites
          The Everywhere Millionaire: Who’s Really Rich in America
        • View All caret-right
        • Videos

          BFI Youtube Channel external
          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 10

          BFI x Sadie Collective Student Lunch Series: Race, Labor Market Inequality, and the Future of Work

          Nov 13

          Fall 2026 Development Lunch Workshop

          Nov 16

          Fall 2026 Behavioral Economics Seminar Series

        • View All caret-right
  • News
    • BFI News
    • Media Mentions
    • Press Releases
  • Info For
    • Scholars
    • Students
    • Media
    • Pre-Doctoral Research Professionals
  • Subscribe
    • Join Our Weekly Briefing Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archive
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