By Aaron Shaykevich, Editor-in-Chief
How long have you worked at YU?
I have been working at Yeshiva University since September 2011. I joined as an assistant professor of economics and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in September 2017.
What do you like most about working at YU?
One of the things I appreciate most about working at YU is the diverse and intellectually curious student body. It’s truly rewarding to engage with students from various backgrounds and help them develop a deeper understanding of economics.
What made you passionate about economics?
My passion for economics stems from its ability to provide analytical frameworks for understanding and addressing complex real-world problems. I’m fascinated by the principles of mechanism design, social choice, and behavioral economics, which offer insights into decision-making processes and incentive structures.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I’m working on understanding the trading behavior of individual investors during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The project aims to provide direct evidence of how individual investors adjusted their stock holdings, net flows, and portfolio characteristics during this unprecedented market downturn. By analyzing detailed individual trading accounts, we hope to identify the significant drivers of individual trading decisions and the heterogeneity in their responses to the crisis.
What advice would you give students interested in economics?
For students interested in economics, I would advise them to cultivate a strong foundation in mathematics and quantitative reasoning, as these skills are essential for analyzing economic models and data. Additionally, I would encourage them to stay curious, think critically, and actively engage with real-world economic issues.
Who would you invite as a guest lecturer, and on what topic?
If given the opportunity, I would invite Professor Alvin E. Roth, a renowned expert in market design and game theory, to deliver a guest lecture on matching markets. His work on the design of labor market clearinghouses and kidney exchange programs has had a profound impact on the field.
What do you want students to know?
I want students to know that economics is not just about numbers and equations, but also about understanding human behavior, incentives, and decision-making processes. I aim to equip them with the analytical tools and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate complex economic environments and make informed decisions.
What book would you recommend?
One book I would highly recommend is Capitalism in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty. This influential work examines the dynamics of wealth distribution and inequality in modern capitalist economies, offering valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions for promoting a more equitable and sustainable economic system.