In our first episode of the Economics of Flourishing Series, Dr. James Heckman and Dr. Ramsus Landersø explore how various elements like markets, family structures, and educational systems contribute to social mobility and human development. They discuss the significant impact of parental engagement and the structure of family life on children's futures. Social mobility rates in Denmark and the United States are also compared, shedding light on the crucial role of parental quality and the process of sorting in educational success. The influence of neighborhood dynamics and housing choices is explored, along with why government programs might fall short in promoting true equality. Join us as we challenge conventional beliefs, advocate for open debates, and emphasize the importance of engaging with diverse viewpoints to foster a more understanding and tolerant society.
Dr. Heckman and Dr. Landersø help us gain insights into how we can collectively enhance human flourishing through informed choices and robust community engagement.
Dr. James Heckman is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and the College at the University of Chicago since 1973. He is the Director of the Center for the Economics of Human Development and also a Senior Fellow with the Archbridge Institute. He has devoted his professional life to understanding the origins of major social and economic problems related to inequality, social mobility, discrimination, skill formation and regulation, and to devising and evaluating alternative strategies for addressing those problems. In 2000, Dr. Heckman won the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for his "for his development of theory and methods used in the analysis of individual or household behavior. His work in selective samples led him to develop methods (such as the Heckman correction) for overcoming statistical sample-selection problems. His research has given policymakers new insights into areas such as education, job training and the importance of accounting for general equilibrium in the analysis of labor markets."
Dr. Rasmus Landersø who is a Research Professor at the Rockwool Foundation Research Unit in Denmark. Rasmus has received his PhD in Economics from Aarhus University and prior to that his Master in Economics from the University of Copenhagen. Rasmus has also been a visiting scholar at the University of Chicago, and he is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Human Capital. Rasmus’ research interests include labor economics, the economics of education, the economics of crime, and applied microeconometrics. His work covers both studies of intergenerational mobility, welfare policies and the role of the public sector, inequality, skill formation, and spillovers in criminal behavior.