B.A. Economics, University of Chicago, 1979
Ph.D. Economics, Stanford University, 1985
Areas of Interest
Development Economics, Economics of Education, and Program Evaluation (Impact Evaluation)
Teaching
Apec 8212. Econometric Analysis II
Apec 8213. Econometric Analysis III
Apec 8223. Impact Evaluation
Apec 8703. Microeconomic Analysis of Economic Development
Research
My research is on household and individual behavior and welfare in developing countries. Most of my research is on education in those countries; in particular on the factors that determine how long (if it all) children go to school and, more important, how much children learn in school. I also conduct research on inequality, income mobility, poverty, and child nutrition in developing countries, and on education in the U.S. I have conducted research on the following developing countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Honors and Awards
Second Place. 1st National Award for Studies on the Bolsa Familia Program. September 2008. Ministry of Social Development. Brasilia, Brazil (for paper written with Ana Lucia Kassouf that was published in Journal of Development Economics in 2012).
University of Minnesota Award for Global Engagement. 2012. This award is given to faculty and staff members in recognition of outstanding contributions to global education and international programs at the University of Minnesota or in their field or discipline.
Distinguished McKnight University Professor, University of Minnesota. 2013. This award is given “to honor and reward the University of Minnesota’s highest-achieving faculty who recently attained full professor status…”.
Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate and Professional Education Award, University of Minnesota. 2015. “This honor is awarded to exceptional candidates nominated by colleges in their quest to identify excellence in graduate and professional education.”
Eugene Allen Award for Innovative International Initiatives, University of Minnesota. 2023. This award “recognizes faculty and staff for their contributions to further the internationalization of the University of Minnesota.”
Regents Professor, University of Minnesota. 2025. “Established in 1965 by the Board of Regents to recognize the national and international prominence of faculty members, the Regents Professorship is the highest honor the University of Minnesota bestows on its faculty. It recognizes faculty who have made exceptional contributions to the University through teaching, research, scholarship, or creative work, and contributions to the public good."
