Betsey Stevenson Professor of Public Policy and Economics, University of Michigan

About

Betsey Stevenson

Last updated March 2025. Download the full CV (PDF)

Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
University of Michigan
735 South State Street, Room 5224
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3091 Email: betseys@umich.edu

Education

  • Ph.D. in Economics, Harvard University, Department of Economics — June 2001 Advisors: Lawrence Katz, Claudia Goldin, Caroline Hoxby
  • M.A. in Economics, Harvard University — June 1999
  • B.A. in Economics and Mathematics, Wellesley College — June 1993

Employment and current affiliations

  • Professor of Public Policy (with tenure), Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan — 2019–present (Associate Professor with tenure 2012–2019, on leave 2013–2015)
  • Professor of Economics (by courtesy), University of Michigan — 2019–present
  • Director, Board of Directors, Lyft, Inc. — November 2023–present
  • Visiting Professor, University of New South Wales — 2024–present
  • Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research — 2015–present (Faculty Research Fellow 2008–2012)
  • Elected Member, National Academy of Social Insurance — 2022–present (elected 2021)
  • Research Fellow, CESifo (Munich) — 2007–present
  • Research Fellow, Centre for Economic Policy Research, London — 2016–present
  • Sloan Foundation Advisory Board — 2024–present

Past employment and affiliations

  • Columnist, Bloomberg View — 2023–2024 (previously 2012, 2015, 2016)
  • Convener, Obama Foundation — 2022–2023
  • Economic Advisor, Biden-Harris Transition Agency Review, U.S. Treasury — 2020–2021
  • Committee on Government Relations, American Economic Association — 2015–2022
  • Visiting Associate Professor, University of Sydney — 2015–2021
  • Executive Committee, American Economic Association (elected) — 2018–2021
  • Research Advisory Board, Committee on Economic Development — 2017–2021
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Economic Perspectives — 2017–2020
  • Editorial Board, International Journal of Happiness and Development — 2015–2018 (previously 2011–2013)
  • Member, Council of Economic Advisers, Executive Office of the President of the United States — 2013–2015
  • Editorial Board, American Law and Economics Review — 2013
  • Advisor, Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Brookings Institution — 2011–2013
  • Visiting Assistant Professor & Visiting Associate Research Scholar, Industrial Relations Section, Economics Department, Princeton University — 2011–2012
  • Chief Economist, United States Department of Labor — 2010–2011
  • Board of Directors, American Law and Economics Association — 2010–2013
  • Assistant Professor, Business and Public Policy Department, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania — 2004–2012 (on leave 2010–2012)
  • Research Associate, Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania — 2006–2012
  • Visiting Scholar, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco — 2005–2009
  • Visiting Scholar, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia — 2005
  • Senior Consumer Research Advisor, Forrester Research — 2001–2004
  • Research Assistant, Federal Reserve Board of Governors — 1993–1995

Grants and awards

  • Presidential Award for Public Engagement, University of Michigan — 2023
  • Robinhood Foundation Grant — $150,000 — 2022–2023
  • Faculty Recognition Award, University of Michigan — 2019
  • John T. Dunlop Outstanding Scholar Award, Labor and Employment Relations Association — 2010, for outstanding contributions in the field of labor economics
  • Sloan Work-Family Career Development Grant — 2009–2011, $45,000
  • Wharton Global Initiatives Research Program — 2010–2011, $9,700
  • PARC / Boettner / NICHD Pilot Project Award — 2008–2009, $28,190
  • Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research — 2008–2009, $4,000
  • Wharton Sports Business Initiative — 2007–2009, $9,000
  • Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research — 2006–2007, $5,000
  • Mack Center for Technological Research — 2005–2008, $18,400
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship — 1995–1999

Books

  • Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers. Principles of Economics. Worth Publishers, 1st ed. 2020; 2nd ed. 2023; 3rd ed. 2025. Translations in Italian and Korean.
  • Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers. Principles of Macroeconomics. Worth Publishers, 1st ed. 2020; 2nd ed. 2023; 3rd ed. 2025.
  • Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers. Principles of Microeconomics. Worth Publishers, 1st ed. 2020; 2nd ed. 2023; 3rd ed. 2025.
  • Richard Holden, Betsey Stevenson, and Justin Wolfers. Principles of Economics (Australian adaptation). Macmillan International, 2023.
  • Kevin Milligan, Philip Oreopoulos, Betsey Stevenson, and Justin Wolfers. Principles of Economics (Canadian adaptation). Macmillan International, 1st ed. 2023; 2nd ed. 2025.

Published journal articles

  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law: Divorce Laws and Family Distress.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, February 2006, 121(1): 267–288.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “The Impact of Divorce Laws on Marriage-Specific Capital.” Journal of Labor Economics, January 2007, 25(1): 75–94.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Marriage and Divorce: Changes and Their Driving Forces.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Spring 2007, 21(2): 27–52.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Title IX and the Evolution of High School Sports.” Contemporary Economic Policy, October 2007, 25(4): 486–505. [Lead Article]
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Economic Growth and Subjective Well-Being: Reassessing the Easterlin Paradox.” Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Spring 2008: 1–87. [Lead Article]
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Divorce Law and Women’s Labor Supply.” Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, December 2008, 5(4): 853–873.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Happiness Inequality in the United States.” Journal of Legal Studies, June 2008, 37(S2): S33–S79. Republished in Eric A. Posner and Cass R. Sunstein (eds.), Law and Happiness, University of Chicago Press, March 2010.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness.” American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, August 2009, 1(2): 190–225.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Beyond the Classroom: Using Title IX to Measure the Return to High School Sports.” Review of Economics and Statistics, May 2010, 92(2): 284–301.
  • Alexander, Trent, Michael Davern, and Betsey Stevenson. “The Polls — Review: Inaccurate Age and Sex Data in the Census PUMS Files: Evidence and Implications.” Public Opinion Quarterly, Fall 2010, 74(3): 551–569.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Trust in Public Institutions over the Business Cycle.” American Economic Review Papers and Proceedings, May 2011, 101(3): 281–287.
  • Sacks, Daniel, Betsey Stevenson, and Justin Wolfers. “The New Stylized Facts About Income and Subjective Well-Being.” Emotion, December 2012, 12(6): 1181–1187.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Subjective and Objective Indicators of Racial Progress.” Journal of Legal Studies, June 2012, 41: 459–493.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Subjective Well-Being and Income: Is There Any Evidence of Satiation?” American Economic Review Papers and Proceedings, May 2013, 103(3): 598–604.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Hanna Zlotnik. “Representations of Men and Women in Introductory Economics Textbooks.” AEA Papers and Proceedings, May 2018, 108: 180–85.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Sparking Student Curiosity.” Journal of Economic Education, January 2022.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “The Evolution of the American Family: An Economic Interpretation.” American Journal of Family Law, 22(3), Fall 2008.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “The Internet and Job Search.” In David Autor (ed.), Labor Market Intermediation. University of Chicago Press, 2009.
  • Isen, Adam and Betsey Stevenson. “Women’s Education and Family Behavior: Trends in Marriage, Divorce and Fertility.” In John Shoven (ed.), Demography and the Economy. University of Chicago Press, 2011.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Justin Wolfers. “Trends in Marital Stability.” In Lloyd Cohen and Joshua D. Wright (eds.), Research Handbook in the Law and Economics of the Family. Edward Elgar Press, 2011.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Andrew Langan. “‘The Labor Market in the Great Recession — An Update to September 2011’: Comments and Discussion.” Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Fall 2011.
  • Sacks, Daniel, Betsey Stevenson, and Justin Wolfers. “Subjective Well-Being, Income, Economic Development and Growth.” In Development Challenges in a Post-Crisis World. World Bank, 2013.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Economic Analysis and Statistical Disclosure Limitation: Comments and Discussion.” Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Fall 2015.
  • Furman, Jason and Betsey Stevenson. “Business Tax Reform and the Labor Market.” In Michael Strain (ed.), The U.S. Labor Market: Questions and Challenges for Public Policy. American Enterprise Institute, 2016.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Artificial Intelligence, Income, Employment, and Meaning.” In Avi Goldfarb, Ajay Agrawal, and Joshua Gans (eds.), Economics of Artificial Intelligence. University of Chicago Press, 2019.
  • Stevenson, Betsey and Isabelle Sawhill. “Paid Leave for Caregiving: Issues and Answers.” AEI-Brookings Paid Leave Project, 2020.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “The Initial Impact of COVID-19 on Labor Market Outcomes Across Groups and the Potential for Permanent Scarring.” Hamilton Project, July 16, 2020.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Women, Work, and Families: Recovering from the Pandemic-Induced Recession.” Hamilton Project, September 29, 2021.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Commentary: Maximum Employment and the Participation Cycle.” Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 2021.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “An Imperfect Labor Market Recovery.” In Georgetown Denny Center Inaugural Report on the Health of Democratic Capitalism, 2022.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “The Resilient and Adapting Economy.” In “Evaluating the Quality of Market Competition,” Annual Report on the Health of Democratic Capitalism, 2023.
  • Stevenson, Betsey, Diane Swonk, and Michael Horrigan. “Shift or Shock? Long-term Balance of Power in Labor Markets.” Business Economics, 58, 85–96 (2023). DOI: 10.1057/s11369-023-00311-9
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “Earned Time Off: A Proposal for Paid Time Off.” The Hamilton Project, Brookings Institution, 2024.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “A Federal Guarantee for Earned Paid Time Off.” The Hamilton Project, The Brookings Institution, 2024.
  • Stevenson, Betsey. “JEL Book Review: Career and Family: Women’s Century-Long Journey toward Equity by Claudia Goldin.” Journal of Economic Literature, 62(3): 1259–1261, September 2024.
  • Kling, K., H. Luke Shaefer, and Betsey Stevenson. “Economic and Health Impacts of Paid Parental, Caregiving, and Medical Leave: A review of existing literature and evidence.” Poverty Solutions, Report to the State of Michigan, 2024.

Podcasts (host)

  • Co-host, Think Like An Economist (with Justin Wolfers) — an audio course designed to teach micro and macro economics. Produced by Himalaya Media. 53 episodes.
  • Host, Planet Money — 2020 Summer School series.

Select U.S. Congressional testimony (2019 and later)

  • “Building a Resilient Economy: Shoring Up Supply.” U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs — March 22, 2022.
  • “COVID Child Care Challenges: Supporting Families and Caregivers.” U.S. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis — March 2, 2022.
  • “Help Wanted: A Stronger Labor Market for Robust Growth.” Joint Economic Committee — October 27, 2021.
  • “The Role of Child Care in an Equitable Post-Pandemic Economy.” U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs’ Subcommittee on Economic Policy — June 23, 2021.
  • “The Consequences of Inaction on COVID Tax Legislation.” Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Committee on Ways and Means — September 11, 2020.
  • “Unemployment Challenges.” Washington State Legislative Hearing, Special Committee on Economic Recovery — June 16, 2020.
  • “Improving Family Stability for the Well-being of American Children.” U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee — February 25, 2020.
  • “The Employer Information Report (EEO-1).” Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Hearing — November 20, 2019.
  • “Small Business and the American Worker.” U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee — March 6, 2019.

Select policy papers and op-eds (2020 and later)

  • “What Washing Machines Can Tell Us About America’s Economic Future” (with Justin Wolfers). The New York Times, October 23, 2024.
  • “A Lot of ‘Unskilled’ Workers Actually Aren’t.” Bloomberg Opinion, September 1, 2024.
  • “Populist Economics Is the Antidote to Corporate Avarice.” Bloomberg Opinion, August 19, 2024.
  • “Trump and Harris Should Focus on the Minimum Wage, Not Tips.” Bloomberg Opinion, August 15, 2024.
  • “Banning Airbnb Won’t Solve the Housing Crisis.” Bloomberg Opinion, July 8, 2024.
  • “Watch What Consumers Do, Not How They Feel.” Bloomberg Opinion, June 11, 2024.
  • “FTC Ban on Noncompetes Is a Victory for the US Economy.” Bloomberg Opinion, April 24, 2024.
  • “What Barbie Can Teach Working-Class Men.” Bloomberg Opinion, March 11, 2024.
  • “Australia’s Deadliest Animals Are No Match for America’s Guns.” Bloomberg Opinion, February 17, 2024.
  • “2024’s Economy Will Be Just as Unpredictable as 2023’s.” Bloomberg Opinion, January 3, 2024.
  • “An Economist’s Guide to Making New Year’s Resolutions.” Bloomberg Opinion, December 29, 2023.
  • “AI Will Change Your Job. Can You Change Along With It?” Bloomberg Opinion (republished Washington Post), October 1, 2023.
  • “Goldin Took Women’s Careers From Economic Sideshow to Mainstream.” Bloomberg Opinion (republished Washington Post), October 10, 2023.
  • “Guess How Much This Debt Ceiling Nonsense Is Costing Us.” The New York Times, June 5, 2023.
  • “The Big Question: Is the World of Work Forever Changed? A More Humane Labor Market” (with Justin Wolfers). The New York Times, December 8, 2021.
  • “The Jobs Report Takeaway: A Huge Reallocation of People and Work Is Underway.” The New York Times, June 4, 2021.
  • “A Payroll Tax Cut Won’t Work. Send Big Checks Now.” (with Justin Wolfers). The New York Times, March 18, 2020.

The full list of testimony, policy papers, and presentations is available in the downloadable CV (PDF).