Research Initiative

Big Data Initiative

Using a rapidly growing wealth of consumer and business data to improve decision-making

Faculty Directors

Stéphane Bonhomme, Azeem Shaikh

Description

Government agencies and modern businesses, from banks and online retailers to social media platforms and search engines, are amassing an unprecedented wealth of data in terms of both size and level of detail. This rapidly growing wealth of “big data” provides new opportunities to improve the quality of economic analysis. This initiative explores the ability of big data to fulfill this promise, with the help of newly developed econometric tools.

Associated Scholars

UChicago Scholar

Stéphane Bonhomme

Ann L. and Lawrence B. Buttenwieser Professor in Economics and the College, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Co-Director of BFI Big Data Initiative
UChicago Scholar

Max Farrell

Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Christian B. Hansen

Wallace W. Booth Professor of Econometrics and Statistcs, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Ali Hortaçsu

Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor of Economics, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Co-Director of BFI Industrial Organization Initiative
UChicago Scholar

Mladen Kolar

Associate Professor of Econometrics and Statistics, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Thibaut Lamadon

Assistant Professor in Economics and the College, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics
UChicago Scholar

Tengyuan Liang

Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics and George C. Tiao Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Sanjog Misra

Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Marketing and Neubauer Family Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Sendhil Mullainathan

Professor of Computation and Behavioral Science, and George C. Tiao Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Guillaume Pouliot

Assistant Professor, Harris Public Policy
UChicago Scholar

Veronika Rockova

Associate Professor of Econometrics and Statistics, and James S. Kemper Foundation Faculty Scholar, Booth School of Business
UChicago Scholar

Azeem Shaikh

Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor in Economics and the College and Thornber Research Fellow, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Co-Director of BFI Big Data Initiative
UChicago Scholar

Alexander Torgovitsky

Professor in Economics and the College, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics
UChicago Scholar

Panos Toulis

Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics, and John E. Jeuck Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business

Associated Working Papers

BFI Working Paper • Jul 16, 2020

Inference with Imperfect Randomization: The Case of the Perry Preschool Program

James Heckman, Rodrigo Pinto, Azeem Shaikh
Topics:  Early Childhood Education
BFI Working Paper • Mar 19, 2020

Inference for Ranks with Applications to Mobility across Neighborhoods and Academic Achievement across Countries

Magne Mogstad, Joseph P. Romano, Azeem Shaikh, Daniel Wilhelm
BFI Working Paper • Dec 22, 2019

Randomization Tests in Observational Studies with Staggered Adoption of Treatment

Azeem Shaikh, Panos Toulis
View All

Associated Events

April
5-6
2019
Past Event • All Day • University of Chicago, Saieh Hall for Economics, Rm 021

Robustness in Economics and Econometrics Conference

Models are essential inputs to economic analysis. Yet, an economic model is at best only an approximation to a complex social reality. Economists have approached the issue of model...

Associated News

Media Mention • Oct 24, 2019

The Tipping System Is Immoral

New York Times; John List
BFI News • Feb 20, 2018

Spotlight on BFI’s New Research Initiative to Study Big Data

The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) launched four new research initiatives earlier this year to support collaborative research and learning around several key issues, including: the study of Big Data;...

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