Economics

“It certainly is the case that trade contributes to certain lower-priced goods and services, and on the average, that lowers the cost of living,” David Autor notes. “But for displaced workers, the fact that things are 10 percent cheaper at Walmart is just not making up for the fact that they’re not employed.”

Trading places

Economists take a new look at the evidence that the U.S. has lost millions of jobs to China.

March 9, 2016

An architect’s rendering of MIT's new Samberg Conference Center overlooking the Charles River.

MIT to Name New Conference Center in Honor of Arthur and Rebecca Samberg

February 1, 2016

"Even when you have great technology, you need some incentive for people to reduce pollution. We need to find ways to make the benefit of reducing pollution felt by the ones who are paying the cost of reducing pollution." —Ariel Zucker, MIT doctoral student in economics

Incentives matter

Working with the Tata Center, two MIT economics students are testing projects to reduce industrial pollution in India.

January 29, 2016

The SHASS Research Fund supports MIT research in the humanities, arts, or social sciences that shows promise of making an important contribution to the proposed area of activity.

Ten MIT-SHASS Research Fund recipients announced for 2016

January 25, 2016

The Morris and Sophie Chang Building (foreground left) borders the vibrant Kendall Square technology hub.

MIT to name signature building on the Charles River in honor of Morris and Sophie Chang

December 2, 2015

A group of Burmese woman grow rice on a rice paddy. A new study indicates that agriculture in Mynamar and other countries will experience substantial productivity declines in the next 30 years due to climate change.

Grow your own way

Study: Trade may not help a warming planet fight its farming failures.

November 20, 2015

MIT named No. 1 university worldwide for social sciences

Times Higher Education ranks MIT’s social sciences the best in the world.

November 9, 2015

MIT’s J-PAL North America launches State and Local Innovation Initiative

New program out of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT aims to help state and local governments find solutions to key public policy issues.

November 6, 2015

Making banking effective for the poor

In India, PhD student Natalia Rigol aims to tap into community knowledge to vet loan and grant applicants.

October 20, 2015

Heidi Williams wins MacArthur “genius grant”

Economist who studies medical research and intellectual property wins $625,000 prize.

September 29, 2015

DUSP, CRE, and STL Lab award $1.5 million in first round of faculty research funding

Thirteen grants awarded to MIT faculty and researchers from four different schools.

September 22, 2015

Hundreds of MIT students explore fields at the 2015 TOUR de SHASS

Academic expo connects students with MIT-SHASS faculty and courses.

September 16, 2015

New MIT-SHASS Faculty for 2015: David Atkin, William Deringer, Paloma Duong; Caley Horan, Amy Moran-Thomas, Tanalís Padilla, Robin Scheffler; Frank Schilbach, Bettina Stoetzer, Leslie Tilley

Announcing MIT-SHASS new faculty for fall 2015

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences welcomes a new group of standout scholars.

September 14, 2015

Esther Duflo receives 2015 A.SK Social Science Award

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center honors the developmental economist and J-PAL director for her studies on poverty alleviation.

September 9, 2015

State of growth

Study: Local and national governments spur growth better in tandem.