Aims of Public Policy

The Aims of Public Policy address provides a collective moment for students entering Harris during which they can think about the broader aspects of their education before becoming fully immersed in the data-driven Harris approach to policy analysis. The address is a unique experience to Harris and is an annual tradition. Each year, a Harris faculty member is invited to speak about the impact of public policy, while encouraging you to reflect on the purpose of your education.

2023 Faculty Remarks: Damon Jones, Ph.D.

Damon Jones, Ph.D. is an associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. He conducts research at the intersection of three fields: public finance, household finance, and labor economics. Assoc. Prof. Jones has researched topics that include inequality, household financial decision-making, and racial equity, touches on policies such as income tax, the social safety net, social security, retirement and retirement savings, the interaction between employer-provided benefits and labor market outcomes, and economic inequality across racial lines. More recently, he has conducted research on workplace wellness programs, universal basic income, and racial differences in financial outcomes. At Harris, Assoc. Prof. Jones currently teaches a course on public finance and public policy, a course in advanced microeconomics, and a practicum on tax policy and household finance.

Previous Speakers

Konstantin Sonin, Ph.D., John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor at Harris (2022)

Steven Neil Durlauf, Ph.D., Steans Professor in Educational Policy (2021)

Scott Ashworth, Professor and Director of the Harris PhD Program (2020)

Ryan Kellogg, Professor and Deputy Dean for Academic Programs (2019)

Christopher R. Berry, William J. and Alicia Townsend Friedman Professor (2018)

William Howell, Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics (2017)

James Robinson, The Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies (2016)

Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Sydney Stein Professor and Deputy Dean (2015)