PPE Lecture: Justin Wolfers on Income and Happiness

Tuesday, February 18, 2014 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM EST
Johnson Center, A

Dr. Justin Wolfers is one of the world's most famous happiness economists — economists who use large data sets and sophisticated statistics to figure out what makes people happy. During this lecture on Mason's Fairfax campus, Dr. Wolfers (from the University of Michigan and the Brookings Institution) will discuss recent joint work with Dr. Betsey Stevenson on the relationship between income and happiness. The title is "Growth in Subjective Well-Being and Income over Time." The event is organized by Mason's brand new undergraduate program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, in collaboration with the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy. The event is free and open to the public. 

Bio. Justin Wolfers is currently a Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, and is on leave from the University of Michigan, where he is a Professor of Economics and a Professor of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. He is also an editor of the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, a Research Associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research; a Research Fellow with the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in Bonn; a Research Affiliate with the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London; an International Research Fellow with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, and a Fellow of the CESifo, in Munich. He was previously a visiting professor at Princeton, an Associate Professor at Wharton, an Assistant Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and an economist with the Reserve Bank of Australia. Dr. Wolfers earned his Ph.D. in economics in 2001 from Harvard University, and was a Fulbright, Knox and Menzies Scholar. He earned his undergraduate degree in Economics in his native Australia at the University of Sydney in 1994, winning the University Medal. Wolfers' research focuses on labor economics, macroeconomics, political economy, law and economics, social policy and behavioral economics. Beyond research, he is a columnist for Bloomberg View, a sometime blogger for Freakonomics, and a commentator for public radio's Marketplace program. He is also a popular teacher, with many teaching awards to his name.

About the PPE Program. The new Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Program at George Mason University allows undergraduate students to pursue topics in the intersection of philosophy, political science, and economics. Students in the program work with faculty in the Departments of Philosophy, Public and International Affairs, and Economics. Many of these faculty are internationally recognized authorities on topics in the intersection of philosophy, politics and economics. 

About the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. The mission of the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being (CWB) is to catalyze human well-being by promoting the science and practices that lead to a life of vitality, purpose, and resilience. As an interdisciplinary teaching and research center at George Mason University, the Center is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations thrive in a world of complexity and uncertainty.

About the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy. The Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy brings philosophical analysis – the examination of values and the clarification of concepts – to the discussion of pressing issues in public policy. Institute members address moral, legal, and societal concerns that arise, for example, with emerging technologies, international development, and global demands for justice. The institute provides expertise in the ethical and conceptual dimensions of public policy and thus complements empirical research from the natural and social sciences. 

About George Mason University. George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Mason provides students access to diverse cultural experiences and the most sought-after internships and employers in the country. George Mason University is a leading example of the modern, public university. George Mason University—Where Innovation Is Tradition.

Hosted by The undergraduate Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Program.

Sponsored by The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.

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