Economics

Utility-scale photovoltaic arrays are an economic investment across most of the United States when health and climate benefits are taken into account, concludes an analysis by MITEI postdoc Patrick Brown and Senior Lecturer Francis O’Sullivan. Their results show the importance of providing accurate price signals to generators and consumers and of adopting policies that reward installation of sol...

Researchers find benefits of solar photovoltaics outweigh costs

Over a seven-year period, decline in PV costs outpaced decline in value; by 2017, market, health, and climate benefits outweighed the cost of PV systems.

June 23, 2020

A new study led by an MIT professor shows that areas in the U.S. introducing R&D tax credits experience a 20 percent rise in high-quality new-firm-formation over a 10-year period.

State-level R&D tax credits spur growth of new businesses

Study also finds tax breaks for general business investment have slightly negative effect on innovation.

June 12, 2020

MIT researchers have published a study examining which types of businesses should be open or closed during the Covid-19 crisis. Vital forms of commerce that are relatively uncrowded and produce fewer health risks fare the best in the study; less significant types of businesses that generate crowds perform worse.

Which businesses should be open?

In light of Covid-19, an MIT study looks at tradeoffs between economic value and public health, across different types of retail.

June 11, 2020

QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2020-21

Ranked at the top for the ninth straight year, the Institute also places first in 12 subject areas.

June 9, 2020

Left to right: Michelle Bai '20 (economics and political science), Frances Parker-Hale '20 (political science), and Nwanacho Nwana '20 (political science and management science.)

Recent political science graduates see brighter days ahead

Leveraging unique undergraduate opportunities, new MIT political science alumni pursue bright prospects.

June 4, 2020

For generations, dissertation defenses have been crowning moments for PhD candidates. Now, with the pandemic limiting activity on the MIT campus from mid-March onward, moving dissertation defenses to Zoom has been a necessary adjustment.

Inside the new world of online dissertation defenses

Emojis, grandmas logging in, and kudos from strangers: How MIT students have finished their PhDs during the pandemic.

May 22, 2020

Using a novel methodology, MITEI researcher Joanna Moody and Associate Professor Jinhua Zhao uncovered patterns in the development trends and transportation policies of China’s 287 cities — including Fengcheng, shown here — that may help decision-makers learn from one another.

Transportation policymaking in Chinese cities

A new framework for learning from each other.

May 21, 2020

White blood cells are among the first to mount an attack against sepsis, a deadly complication of Covid-19. In a project led by MIT Professor Daniela Rus, researchers are developing a machine learning system to detect an activated immune response to sepsis which could lead to earlier, more aggressive treatment. Here, a white blood cell attacks malaria.

Marshaling artificial intelligence in the fight against Covid-19

The MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab is funding 10 research projects aimed at addressing the health and economic consequences of the pandemic.

May 19, 2020

MIT D-Lab collaborates with artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Colombia. The program has pivoted to assess the impact of Covid-19 on the community and provide virtual workshops to address identified needs. Pictured is a D-Lab Creative Capacity Building Training of Trainers in Santa Rita, Colombia in January 2020.

Helping artisanal miners in Colombia face the Covid-19 crisis

MIT D-Lab and local community partners to deliver virtual trainings on making masks, hand sanitizer, vertical gardens, and portable chicken coops.

May 18, 2020

Addison Stark (left) and Abigail Ostriker

Q&A: Energy studies at MIT and the next generation of energy leaders

Abigail Ostriker ’16 and Addison Stark SM ’10, PhD ’15 share how their experiences with MIT’s energy programs connect them to the global energy community.

May 18, 2020