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...
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.
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+ (EDE+) brings together a diverse group of early undergraduate students to hone their research abilities and technical skills.
Ariel Kalil, Mauricio Koechlin, Dana McCoy, Michelle Michelini, and Terri Sabol
Curiosity is fundamental to young children’s learning, yet no brief, validated behavioral measure of epistemic curiosity is designed for field-based research with preschool-aged children. This article describes the development and validation of the Animal Game, a 10-trial behavioral task, that...
We study the optimal design and analysis of experiments for estimating spillover effects. Assuming a known (e.g., linear) exposure mapping, we characterize the treatment-assignment distribution and regression-based estimator that minimize worst-case asymptotic variance against a broad class of distributions of...
Felipe Chávez-Bustamante and Cristián Troncoso-Valverde
Firms face a critical trade-off when allocating scarce human capital between technological and social innovation. While the role of human capital in technological innovation is well established, its influence on social innovation and the strategic interplay between the two remain...
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.
The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics 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 Harris School of Public Policy, and the Law School in an unparalleled effort to uncover new ways of thinking about economics. We put those ideas into action by translating rigorous research into accessible and relevant formats, and proactively disseminating it to key decision-makers around the world.
Our Legacy
For decades, UChicago economists have questioned conventional wisdom and produced bold, even revolutionary ideas. The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics builds on this tradition, supporting innovative research to inspire a future of powerful new ideas.
Visitors & Fellows
Counting over 20 Nobel laureates among its faculty of economics, UChicago is the global hub for frontier research. BFI supports collaboration in the field by hosting non-faculty scholars through our Saieh Family Fellows, Distinguished Research Fellows, and Visiting Scholars programs.
Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP)
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.
Opportunities for Students
BFI offers a variety of opportunities for students, including the internship and research assistantship programs.
Our Team
BFI is guided by leading scholars from throughout the UChicago community and an advisory board of business leaders with a range of backgrounds.
Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and the College, Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, Director, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics; Director, BFI Experimental Economics Program
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...
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.
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+ (EDE+) brings together a diverse group of early undergraduate students to hone their research abilities and technical skills.
Ariel Kalil, Mauricio Koechlin, Dana McCoy, Michelle Michelini, and Terri Sabol
Curiosity is fundamental to young children’s learning, yet no brief, validated behavioral measure of epistemic curiosity is designed for field-based research with preschool-aged children. This article describes the development and validation of the Animal Game, a 10-trial behavioral task, that...
We study the optimal design and analysis of experiments for estimating spillover effects. Assuming a known (e.g., linear) exposure mapping, we characterize the treatment-assignment distribution and regression-based estimator that minimize worst-case asymptotic variance against a broad class of distributions of...
Felipe Chávez-Bustamante and Cristián Troncoso-Valverde
Firms face a critical trade-off when allocating scarce human capital between technological and social innovation. While the role of human capital in technological innovation is well established, its influence on social innovation and the strategic interplay between the two remain...
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.