How Did Housing Get So Expensive — and What Solutions Would Actually Work?
Why has housing become so expensive, and which policies would actually improve affordability? Join our panel of expert economists for an accessible discussion of what has driven rising housing costs, what determines whether new housing gets built, and which local, state, and federal solutions are most likely to work.
Panelists
Adam Looney, Marriner S. Eccles Institute
Andra Ghent, Ivory Boyer Institute
Elena Patel, Brookings Institute
Moderator: Scott Schaefer, Department of Economics.
Campus Locations: Garff Executive Education Building - Robert H. and Katharine B. (GARFF). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, October 26, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:30 PM.
Economics CAKE Talk Seminar: Joe Price
Professor Joe Price will present his lecture on the paper, "Like a Good Neighbor: Childhood Neighbors Influence Occupation Choice"
Occupation choice is a key determinant of economic mobility. This paper studies how childhood neighbors influence occupational choices and later-life earnings. Using linked historical U.S. census records for over six million boys and four million girls, we reconstruct neighborhood microgeography to identify childhood neighbors and their occupations. We find that living next door to someone in a given occupation increases the probability of working in that same occupation 30 years later by about 10 percent relative to other children on the same street. The transmission effect is higher with more intense exposure, in more connected neighborhoods, and among more similar families. Exposure to high-income or highly educated neighbors has lasting economic effects, leading to significant gains in adult income and education even compared to other children from the same street. These findi…
Event Categories: Conferences. Lectures. Seminars. Campus Locations: Gardner Commons - Carolyn and Kem (GC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, October 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Can America Keep Its Promises? Social Security and the Math Washington Avoids
The United States faces significant fiscal challenges driven by demographic changes, rising federal expenditures, and long-term budget pressures. This forum will examine the future of Social Security, federal spending priorities, and the policy tradeoffs economists believe policymakers must confront in the years ahead.
Panelists
Adam Looney, Marriner S. Eccles Institute
Elena Patel, Brookings Institute
Moderator: Scott Schaefer, Department of Economics
Register with the link.
Campus Locations: Virtual. Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, November 9, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
For more info visit eccles.utah.edu. Careers in Criminology
More info coming soon!
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Economics CAKE Talk Seminar: Sarah Robinson
Associate Professor of Economics from Claremont McKenna, Sarah Robinson, will visit the University and deliver her lecture during this Economics CAKE Talk Seminar. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Some of Professor Robinson's research interests include health and public economics.
Event Categories: Conferences. Lectures. Seminars. Campus Locations: Gardner Commons - Carolyn and Kem (GC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, November 13, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM.
Economics CAKE Talk Seminar: Rene Crespin
Assistant Professor of Economics from Michigan State, Rene Crespin, will visit the University and deliver his lecture during this Economics CAKE Talk Seminar. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Some of Professor Crespin's research interests include economics of education and labor economics.
Event Categories: Conferences. Lectures. Seminars. Campus Locations: Gardner Commons - Carolyn and Kem (GC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, November 20, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Thanksgiving
University Observed Holidays
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Day After Thanksgiving
University Observed Holidays
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, November 27, 2026.
Economics CAKE Talk Seminar: Debora Machado Nunes
Assistant Professor of Economics from Monmouth University, Debora Machado Nunes, will visit the University and deliver her lecture during this Economics CAKE Talk Seminar. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Some of Professor Nunes' research interests include international economics and development, history of economic thought, gender in the economy, and macro political economy.
Event Categories: Conferences. Lectures. Seminars. Campus Locations: Gardner Commons - Carolyn and Kem (GC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, December 4, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Christmas Day
University Observed Holidays
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, December 25, 2026.
New Year's Day
University Observed Holidays
Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Friday, January 1, 2027.