Core faculty

Betsey Stevenson

Professor of Public Policy, Professor of Economics (by courtesy) (on sabbatical leave)

Betsey Stevenson is a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan. She is also a faculty research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a visiting associate professor of economics at the University of Sydney, a research fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research, a fellow of the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich, and serves on the executive committee of the American Economic Association. She served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers from 2013 to 2015 where she advised President Obama on social policy, labor market, and trade issues. She served as the chief economist of the U.S. Department of Labor from 2010 to 2011, advising the Secretary of Labor on labor policy and participating as the secretary's deputy to the White House economic team. She has held previous positions at Princeton University and at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

Dr. Stevenson is a labor economist who has published widely in leading economics journals about the labor market and the impact of public policies on outcomes both in the labor market and for families as they adjust to changing labor market opportunities. Her research explores women's labor market experiences, the economic forces shaping the modern family, and how these labor market experiences and economic forces on the family influence each other. She is a columnist for Bloomberg View, and her analysis of economic data and the economy are frequently covered in both print and television media.

Dr Stevenson earned a BA in economics and mathematics from Wellesley College and an MA and PhD in economics from Harvard University.

Stevenson is on sabbatical leave for the 2023-2024 academic year. Learn more on Stevenson's NBER profile.

Professional affiliations

  • Research fellow, Center for Economic Policy Research
  • Fellow, Ifo Institute for Economic Research
  • Research advisory board member, Committee for Economic Development
Podcast cover for Think Like An Economist

Podcast

Stevenson and Wolfers: Think Like an Economist

Think Like an Economist and you’ll see the world more clearly, empowering you to make better decisions at work, at home, and in your community. Leading economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers will take you on a joyous romp through their field as they introduce you to the big ideas in economics, and show how you can apply them to live in your own life. Their signature approach reveals that every decision is an economic decision and this podcast uncovers the economic forces that shape the world around you.
Check out "Think Like an Economist."
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Blog

BLS monthly U.S. labor market analysis

Using monthly data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Betsey Stevenson and Benny Docter publish U-M’s Rapid Insights Jobs Report analysis, providinh key charts and findings that highlight new developments in the labor market.
Read and subscribe