Scholarship and Biography

Elizabeth Brainerd’s research focuses on labor and health economics, with particular interest in understanding the social and health consequences of the transition to capitalism in formerly socialist countries. Her work has examined changes in the gender wage gap and wage inequality in eastern Europe, the impact of World War II on marriage and fertility of Russian women, and the impact of economic transition on mortality in post-socialist countries. The scope of her work also includes a study of the impact of globalization on relative women’s wages in the United States. Current research projects include an analysis of the growing life expectancy gap between U.S. and European women, and an examination of the causes of unbalanced sex ratios in the former Soviet Union. Brainerd received her B.A. in economics and Russian from Bowdoin College and her Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. Prior to coming to Brandeis, Brainerd was a Professor in the Economics Department at Williams College.

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Honors

Visiting Scholar, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies
Harvard University (United States, Cambridge), 2015
Radcliffe Institute Summer Fellowship
Harvard University (United States, Cambridge), 2016
President
Association for Comparative Economic Studies, 2016 - 2017
Jeannette Lerman-Neubauer '69 Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2018-2019
Provosts' Teaching Innovation Grant: "Designing an Oral Communications Practicum for Economics Students&"
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2019 - 2020
Provost's Teaching Innovation Grant: "Inclusive Teaching for Large Introductory Economics Courses"
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2019 - 2020

Organizational Affiliations

Susan and Barton Winokur Professor in Economics and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Department of Economics, Brandeis University

Affiliated Faculty, Brandeis International Business School, Brandeis University

Affiliated Faculty, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

Affiliated Faculty, Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Brandeis University

Chair, Department of Economics, Brandeis University

Education

Harvard University
Ph.D.
Columbia University in the City of New York
M.I.A.
Bowdoin College
B.A.