In 2014–15, the Becker Friedman Institute capitalized on beautiful and spacious new quarters in Saieh Hall for Economics to be come a true intellectual destination for economic inquiry. Our flourishing visitors program hosted a record 47 economists and other scholars who shared their work in seminars, talks, and informal discussions. Twelve research conferences, eighteen events for students, and eight public talks on topical issues conveyed economic insights and analysis to widening network of researchers, students, policymakers, alumni, and the public.
We’re especially proud that many of these events involved and engaged policymakers, generating valuable exchanges about how research, evidence, and new models can inform public policy. Several policymakers spent time at the institute as visiting scholars.
Notably, this year we increased our direct support for research, providing funding to thirteen faculty members through the Rosenfield Program in Economics, Public Policy and Law; to our postdoctoral research fellows; and to twenty-seven graduate students through our Macro Financial Modeling Initiative funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Read on for more details of our active and productive year.