Rachel Kranton
Encyclopedia
Rachel E. Kranton is an American economist
and professor at Duke University
. She is a 2010 recipient of the Blaise Pascal Chair
. Kranton's research focuses on how social institutions impact economic outcomes, and has applications in a variety of fields within economics, such as economic development, international economics, and industrial organization.
More specifically, Kranton studies social networks and develops formal theories of how social networks affect economic behavior, the effects of buyer-seller networks, institutions in colonial India, and reciprocal exchange.
In a long-term collaboration, Kranton and George Akerlof
of University of California, Berkeley introduce social identity
into formal economic analysis. Akerlof and Kranton recently published a book, Identity Economics, which provides a comprehensive and accessible discussion of their research. In a review for Science
, Robert Sugden writes: "Nonspecialist readers will find a lot of insightful and well-informed analysis of how issues of identity have an impact on real economic problems." Bloomberg
lists Identity Economics as one of the top 30 business books of 2010.
. She then received an M.P.A. in Economics and Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University
, and later her Ph.D. in Economics from the University California, Berkeley.
Kranton has held positions at the University of Maryland
and Duke University
, and received research fellowships at the Russell Sage Foundation
and Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study
. In 2011, Kranton will be a visiting professor at the Paris School of Economics
.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and professor at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. She is a 2010 recipient of the Blaise Pascal Chair
Blaise Pascal Chair
The Blaise Pascal Chair, , established in 1996 by the Government of the Île-de-France Region for internationally acclaimed foreign scientists in all disciplines. A scientific committee annually selects the most outstanding candidates from all over the world...
. Kranton's research focuses on how social institutions impact economic outcomes, and has applications in a variety of fields within economics, such as economic development, international economics, and industrial organization.
More specifically, Kranton studies social networks and develops formal theories of how social networks affect economic behavior, the effects of buyer-seller networks, institutions in colonial India, and reciprocal exchange.
In a long-term collaboration, Kranton and George Akerlof
George Akerlof
George Arthur Akerlof is an American economist and Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He won the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics George Arthur Akerlof (born June 17, 1940) is an American economist and Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of...
of University of California, Berkeley introduce social identity
Social identity
A social identity is the portion of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group. As originally formulated by Henri Tajfel and John Turner in the 1970s and 80s, social identity theory introduced the concept of a social identity as a way in which to...
into formal economic analysis. Akerlof and Kranton recently published a book, Identity Economics, which provides a comprehensive and accessible discussion of their research. In a review for Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
, Robert Sugden writes: "Nonspecialist readers will find a lot of insightful and well-informed analysis of how issues of identity have an impact on real economic problems." Bloomberg
Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P. is an American privately held financial software, media, and data company. Bloomberg makes up one third of the $16 billion global financial data market with estimated revenue of $6.9 billion. Bloomberg L.P...
lists Identity Economics as one of the top 30 business books of 2010.
Biography
Rachel Kranton completed her undergraduate studies in Economics and Middle East Studies at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. She then received an M.P.A. in Economics and Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and later her Ph.D. in Economics from the University California, Berkeley.
Kranton has held positions at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
and Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, and received research fellowships at the Russell Sage Foundation
Russell Sage Foundation
The Russell Sage Foundation is the principal American foundation devoted exclusively to research in the social sciences. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in New York City, the foundation is a research center, a funding source for studies by scholars at other institutions, and a key member of the...
and Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
. In 2011, Kranton will be a visiting professor at the Paris School of Economics
Paris School of Economics
The Paris School of Economics , created on 21 December 2006 in Paris, France, is a French economics department. The EEP combines researchers from several institutions, including DELTA and INRA...
.