The 2025–2026 academic year marks the fifteenth anniversary of The Goodner Equity Project (ECON 472S).What began as an experiment between Emma Rasiel, Richard Y. Li. Professor of the Practice of Economics, and hedge fund manager and Duke alumnus Blake Goodner (T ’96) has become one of the most distinctive learning experiences in the Department of Economics.The course grew out of the Duke Financial Economics Center (DFE), founded in 2010 under Rasiel’s direction to give undergraduates structured opportunities to apply… read more about Investing in Duke’s Future: The Goodner Equity Project Turns 15 »
Duke’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences has invited its faculty to submit proposals for the creation of new research initiatives on campus.Following the successful launches of the SPACE Initiative and the Society-Centered AI Initiative, the Trinity Research Initiative will support new directions for interdisciplinary research through seed funding for nascent research collaborations, community-building, and complementary educational and outreach activities.Open to all areas of research and… read more about Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Invites Proposals for New Research Initiatives »
Federal Reserve officials are widely expected to reduce the central bank’s target short-term interest rate at their Dec. 9-10 policy meeting, though a new survey of former Fed officials and staff points to doubt about whether an interest rate cut is the right decision. Many of the former officials surveyed said the U.S. central bank should keep interest rates steady for now, according to the survey conducted Dec. 1-5. Among the 32 former Federal Reserve governors, regional Fed bank presidents and staff who responded to… read more about New Survey of Former Federal Reserve Insiders Shows Doubt about Looming Interest Rate Decision »
In recognition of his outstanding scholarly achievement, Peter S. Arcidiacono was invested as a member of the American Academy of Sciences and Letters at an annual ceremony on November 12 in Washington, DC.Arcidiacono is the William Henry Glasson Distinguished Professor of Economics. He specializes in applied microeconomics, applied economics and labor economics, with particular focus on education and discrimination. His work, which has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver… read more about Economics Scholar Honored by American Academy of Sciences and Letters »
On North Carolina’s low-lying coast, where trunks of dead trees rise silver and bare from dark waters, a team of storytellers trace how the past continues to shape the future. Through the Bass Connections project, Ghost (Forest) Stories: Unearthing History and Climate Change, they bring together science, history and art to reveal how centuries of human activity have transformed the Albemarle–Pamlico Peninsula, while uncovering what it all means in an era of rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes… read more about Ghost (Forest) Stories: Uncovering the Past to Understand a Changing Coast »
I walked into Penn Pavilion with the plan to stop by one or two tables for a quick chat. I left hours later with a bag full of free goodies and a newfound understanding of what being a student at Duke can look like.The seemingly endless aisles of tables featuring academic departments, certificate programs and student resources felt like a maze of different opportunities and possibilities. Each table was decorated to be its own vibrant universe. While I may have stopped by a few tables for their bowls full of treats or the… read more about A First-Year Student’s Perspective on the Majors Fair »
A new study by faculty from Duke’s Department of Economics in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences reveals that American consumers ultimately paid more than the tariff cost on European wines during a 2019–21 trade dispute. The research highlights how tariffs ripple through complex supply chains and can raise prices at the checkout counter for a wide variety of products above and beyond the initial levy, insights that are of particular interest given the increased use of tariffs by the U.S. government during 2025… read more about Study Reveals U.S. Consumers Paid More Than the Tariff Cost on European Wines »
If you think economics is just about supply and demand, Christopher Walker, new Assistant Professor of Economics, would like you to flip a coin and make a random guess about whether it will be heads or tails. Then, flip it again, but this time, update your guess based upon the 50-50 odds that it will land a certain way.That’s incorporating Bayesian thinking, and Walker’s research on using new information to guide our predictions of future outcomes is changing the way economists ask their biggest questions about competition… read more about Shaking Up Market Thinking »
A new series explores how Duke faculty are crossing disciplinary boundaries to address global challenges — from climate justice to space debris. read more about Intersections at Duke: Bridging Disciplines, Solving Problems »
Rebecca Stafford is an experienced corporate finance executive and early-stage investor focused on climate tech and sustainability. She is the founder and managing partner at Hestia Venture Partners, which supports the low-carbon transition by investing in companies developing innovative solutions and in real estate assets positioned for targeted retrofit and renovation. Previously, Rebecca held senior leadership roles in real estate investment and institutional asset management, including as managing director and CFO/COO… read more about Duke Econ Alumna Rebecca Stafford Is Bridging Finance, Economics and Sustainability »
The Duke Department of Economics will host the REStud (the Review of Economic Studies) North American Tour on October 22. This is the second time the department has been selected by the REStud board to host this event, after a successful 2022 version. The REStud North American Tour recognizes the most promising job market candidates in Economics and Finance from European universities, and showcases their research to audiences in North America. The selected job market candidates for this year are Juan Antolin-Diaz… read more about Duke Economics Hosts REStud North American Tour »
Early career setbacks don’t affect every worker the same way. For some, opportunities open back up, but for others, disadvantages compound and follow them for years. Yingni Guo, new Associate Professor of Economics, uses economic theory to uncover how hiring bias and market dynamics shape those diverging paths, and what that means for inequality.Guo looks at how economic theory can explain, and even improve, the way jobs, wages and investments take shape, and how they interact with each other. Her research sits… read more about Yingni Guo Shows How Early Biased Hiring Decisions Affect Lifelong Outcomes »
When leaders set tax policy or adjust interest rates, the effects don’t have the same impact on every household. Wendy Morrison, new Assistant Professor of Economics, studies how differences in saving habits and job skills shape the broader influence of monetary and fiscal policy on the economy. Morrison examines how policies, such as taxes or changes to interest rates, impact people across different income groups, not just the “average household.” This is called heterogeneous agent macroeconomics, and it takes into… read more about Exploring How Policies Shape Markets, Communities and Everyday Life »
The Federal Reserve is already staring down the difficult task of determining interest-rate policy in the midst of a sluggish labor market and high inflation. The government shutdown now in its second day could make the central bank’s job even harder by delaying the release of important economic data, like this month’s job report.Fed officials have navigated shutdowns before, but current economic conditions, including rising inflation and a softening job market, make this one especially challenging.Ellen Meade, a former Fed… read more about Ellen Meade Says, “The Fed Might Want to Hold Firm” »
Automotive executives are bracing for a freefall in U.S. electric-vehicle sales following the disappearance of a critical $7,500 tax break for buyers. "It's a game-changer," Ford CEO Jim Farley said during a Detroit event on Tuesday, just hours before the federal subsidy expired. Electric-vehicle registrations could fall 27% without the tax credit, according to a joint study in November 2024 from professors at the University of California, Berkeley, Duke University and Stanford University. read more about End of EV Tax Subsidy Sparks Worries of Collapse in US Electric Car Sales, According to Duke Research »
Before the Fed’s decision was announced Wednesday, the White House was already circulating materials touting the drop in mortgage rates in anticipation of a rate cut.Many economists and former Fed officials agree with the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut rates. Ellen Meade, a research professor at Duke University who spent 25 years at the Federal Reserve board, agreed when NOTUS asked if this is a decision the Fed would have made without pressure from Trump. read more about Duke Economist Discusses the Fed Voting to Cut Interest Rates »
The government's negotiations over TikTok and the Federal Reserve's meeting this week are major business stories with political implications for President Trump - and Jon Hilsenrath is here to discuss both. He's a former economics correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and now a visiting scholar at Duke University. Jon, so framework for a deal is not a deal. So what will you be looking for to see if this one actually becomes a deal? read more about Jon Hilsenrath Discusses TikTok Deal and the Federal Reserve's Upcoming Meeting »
Conducted by Jon Hilsenrath, a former Wall Street Journal economics writer and Visiting Scholar at Duke University, in partnership with Duke’s Department of Economics, the survey gathers views from former Federal Reserve officials and staff about the economic and outlook for the U.S. central bank. With the strong likelihood of persistent inflation and elevated unemployment in the years ahead, former Federal Reserve officials and staff argue that the central bank should proceed with gradual interest rate… read more about New Survey of Former Federal Reserve Insiders Point to Risks to Independence and Policy Outlook »
The Trinity College of Arts & Sciences has launched the SPACE Initiative at Duke (Science & Policy to Advance Cosmic Exploration), a universitywide endeavor dedicated to advancing our understanding of the cosmos through interdisciplinary collaboration. All are invited to its celebratory kick-off event to be held on Sept. 8 at 4 p.m., at Penn Pavilion. The event will combine a poster presentation, a reception and a keynote talk by Duke alumna, astronaut and former Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX… read more about Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Launches SPACE Initiative »
Conducted by Jon Hilsenrath, a former Wall Street Journal economics writer and Visiting Scholar at Duke University, in partnership with Duke’s Department of Economics, the survey gathers views from former Federal Reserve officials and staff about the economic and outlook for the U.S. central bank. Former Federal Reserve officials and staff anticipate higher unemployment and higher inflation in the months ahead, which could complicate decision-making at the U.S. central bank about interest rates, according to… read more about New Survey of Former Federal Reserve Insiders Points to Restrained Interest Rate Outlook »
Eight faculty in Duke University’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences have been honored with named professorships, effective July 1.These endowed positions recognize leadership and commitment to excellence in scholarship and research. Their recipients are outstanding teachers, mentors and researchers whose contributions are invaluable to the College of Arts & Sciences, as well as their students and colleagues.“Trinity is defined by the strength of its faculty, and we are extraordinarily fortunate to count these… read more about Eight Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Honored With Named Professorships »
Senior Lewis Zhu has been awarded the Winfred Quinton Holton Prize for 2025. Zhu is majoring in Economics and Mathematics and minoring in Music.His paper “The Changing Impact of School Suspensions on Student Outcomes: Evidence from North Carolina Public Schools,” earned him the top honors in the highest award category.The Holton Prize was created in 1919 through an endowed gift from Holland and Lela Young Holton, in memory of their son. It recognizes investigative research, curriculum development work and innovative… read more about Economics Senior Awarded Winfred Quinton Holton Prize »