Kathryn Shaw
The Ernest C. Arbuckle Professor of Economics
Research Statement
Bio
Kathryn Shaw is The Ernest C. Arbuckle Professor of Economics at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Previously, Shaw was the Ford Distinguished Research Chair and Professor of Economics at the business school at Carnegie Mellon University. She completed her PhD in economics at Harvard University in 1981. Professor Shaw served as a senate-confirmed member of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers, 1999–2001, and has been an editor of the Journal of Labor Economics.
In recent work, Shaw evaluates the importance of bosses in improving the productivity of their subordinates. She (and her co-authors) show that a good boss can markedly improve his subordinate’s productivity now and into the future as the worker moves on. Shaw has also developed an interest in entrepreneurship, showing that serial entrepreneurs develop intangible capital that they take with them as they move from their first firm to a new more productive firm. In earlier work that has been published in the American Economic Review, and Management Science, she and her colleagues evaluate the effectiveness of complementary teamwork practices in the steel industry. She has also focused on the performance gains from new information technologies and the changes in management strategy towards product customization that enhance returns to investment. In related work on incentives in franchising, she shows how the optimal use of franchise contracts can increase brand value for franchise companies. Her research has been extensively funded by the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Russell Sage and Rockefeller Foundations, and the Department of Labor.
In 2001, Shaw received the Columbia University award for the best paper on international business, and in 1998, she was honored as the recipient of the Minnesota Award for Employment Research for the best paper in 1997–98 on the topic of employment issues. She held a Stanford Graduate School of Business Trust Faculty Fellow in 2005-2006. She has been the recipient of the Xerox Research Chair, has served on a research panel of the NSF, and was an editor of the Review of Economics and Statistics. At Carnegie Mellon University, Shaw received the award for Sustained Teaching Excellence, the Economics Department Teaching Award, was chair of the Faculty Senate, and was head of the Department of Industrial Management.
Academic Degrees
- PhD, Economics, Harvard University, 1981
- AB, Economics & Mathematics, Occidental College, 1976
Academic Appointments
- At Stanford University since 2003
- Visiting Professor, University of London, Spring 2019
- Visiting Professor, MIT Sloan, Fall 2018
- Visiting Professor, IZA, May 2014
- Visiting Professor, University of Paris, December 2009
- Ford Distinguished Research Chair, Professor of Economics, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, 2002–03
- Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1997–2003
- Associate Professor of Economics with Tenure, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1994–97
- Associate Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1989–1994
- Assistant Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1981–89
Professional Experience
- Council of Economic Advisors, Executive Office of the President, Member (Senate Confirmed, June 2000), 1999-2001
- Affiliated Faculty, Heinz School of Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 1996-2003
- Department Head, Industrial Management Department, 1987–90
- Department Head, Economics Department (Acting), 1989
- Visiting Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, 1984–86
- Assistant Head Tutor in Economics, Harvard University, 1978–81
- Research Staff Economist, Center for Policy Alternatives, MIT, 1977–79
Awards and Honors
- Michelle R. Clayman Faculty Fellow for 2021–22
- BP Faculty Fellow in Global Management, Stanford GSB, 2020–2021
- Honorary Doctorate, Maastricht University, 2019
- Co-lead (with Edward Lazear), Personnel Economics group, NBER, 2007-present
- Trust Faculty Fellow, Stanford GSB, 2011–2012
- Fellow, Society for Labor Economics, 2008
- Trust Faculty Fellow, Stanford GSB, 2005–2006
- Special Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence, Economics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 2003
- Teaching Award Commendation, Carnegie Mellow University Business School, 2002
- Best Paper on International Business, Columbia University, 2001
- Teaching Award Commendation, Carnegie Mellow University Business School, 2000
- Teaching Award Commendation, Carnegie Mellow University Business School, 1999
- Minnesota Award for Best Paper on employment Institutions, 1998
- Xerox Research Chair, GSIA, Carnegie Mellon University, 1992–1993
- Teaching Award, Carnegie Mellow University, Department of Economics, 1992
- Harvard University Graduate Student Fellowship, 1976–1979
- Phi Beta Kappa, Magna cum laude, Departmental honors in Economics, 4.0 Graduate in Mathematics, Occidental College, 1976
- Valedictorian, Verdugo Hills High School, 1972
Publications
Journal Articles
Teaching
Degree Courses
Other Teaching
Programs and Non-Degree Courses
Stanford Case Studies
Conferences, Talks & Speaking Engagements
Stanford GSB Affiliations
- South Africa MBA Study Trip Committee 2014
- University Committee on Graduate Studies 2013–present
- University Committee on Faculty Staff Human Resources 2013–present
- Data Center Report Committee 2011–2012
- Management-X Committee 2011–2012
- Kenya MBA Study Trip Committee 2012
- Academic Coordinating Committee 2010–present
- Faculty Liason GSB Student Newspaper 2010–2011
- University Committee on Evaluation of Human Resources 2009–2010
- Committee on Faculty Staff Human Resource 2007–2009
- Co-Director Stanford GSB Summer Institute 2004–present
- Philippines MBA Study Trip Committee 2006
Service to the Profession
Research
- Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research(NBER), 1995–present
- Research Fellow, IZA, 2012–present
- Research Fellow, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), 2004–2018
- Research Fellow, Center for Corporate Performance (CCP), Denmark, 2004–2015
Editorial and Professional Panel
- Board Member, Society for Labor Economics, 2013–present
- Editor, IZA World of Work, personal Finance, 2012–present
- STEP Board, National Academy of Science, 2011–present
- Editorial Advisory Board Member, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2008–2010
- Outside Review Panel, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, 2009
- The Conference Board, Evidence-Based HR Research Working Group, 2007–2009
- Bennett Award Committee (chair), AEA, CSWEP, 2008–2009
- Mincer Award Committee, Society of Labor Economists, 2006–2008
- John Dunlop Award Committee, Labor and Employment Relations Associations, 2006–2008
- Associate Editor, Review of Economics and Statistics, 2003–2011
- Editor(Associate), Journal of Labor Economics,1999, 2001–2008
- Outside Review Panel, Management and Strategy, Kellogg School, Northwestern University, 2006
- Outside Review Panel, Economics Research Department, Chicago Federal Reserve, 2005
- NSF Advisory Panel, 1997–1999, 2001–2003
- American Compensation Association, Academic Research Committee, 1997–1999, 2001–2003
- IRRA, Labor Economics Subsection, co-chair,1996–1999
- Associate Editor, Journal of Regional Science, 1994–1997
Research Grants
- Smith Richardson Foundation, April 2014–December 2016, $257,565
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, January 2003–2009, $1,000,000
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, January 2003–December 2005, $90,000
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Officers’ Planning Grant, June 2002–December 2002 $45,000
- Russell Sage Foundation, August 1999–September 2002, $300,000
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, June 1994–December 2002, $700,000
- National Science Foundation, January 1995–April 1999, $350,000
- Department of Labor, October 1994–August 1997, $76,000
- National Science Foundation, October 1993–October 1995, $98,000
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, June 1991–June 1994. Award to project I headed, about $216,000
- W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, January 1991–June 1992, $30,000
- National Science Foundation, June 1987–anuary 1989, $27,000
- Social Impact of Information and Robotics Technology, 1983–1984, $20,000
- Doctoral Dissertation Grant, US Department of Labor, 1980–1981