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Research in the Office of the Chief Economist

The major functions of the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) are economic research, source data improvements and advising on economic and statistical activities. It performs research to refine existing measures and to develop new statistics. OCE supports research across the Bureau, working with program staff to implement improvements to BEA's accounts. It also serves as a liaison to the academic community.

OCE assures the improvement and integration of the source data used in the production and analysis of BEA's national economic, industry, regional, and international accounts.

The Chief Economist serves as a key technical adviser to the Director for BEA statistical activities and as chief auditor of all statistical operations.

Meet the Researchers

Calvin Ackley

Research Economist
Photo of Calvin Ackley.
Calvin.Ackley@bea.gov
Ackley
Ph.D.
Boston University
Economics
2020
BA
Boston College
Economics
2014
False
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

 

 

Ana M. Aizcorbe

Senior Research Economist
Photo of Ana M. Aizcorbe.
ana.aizcorbe@bea.gov
(301) 278-9277

 

 
Aizcorbe
Ph.D.
Boston College
Economics
1986
B.A.
Georgetown University
Economics
1980
ASA/NSF/BLS Senior Research Fellow
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, DC
2015
2015
Research Professor
Virginia Tech Social and Decision Analytics Lab, Virginia Tech, Arlington, VA
2013
2016
Chief Economist
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Washington, DC
2008
2013
Economist
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Washington, DC
2003
2008
Economist
Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC
1992
2003
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, DC
Research Economist
1986
1991
Associate Editor
Journal of Productivity Analysis
2013
now
Chair, Business and Economic Statistics Section
American Statistical Association
2015
2017
Advisor, National Health Account Group
National Bureau of Economic Research
2008
2014
Advisor
American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics
2012
2014
Advisor
Altarum Institute. Center for Sustainable Health Spending
2010
2016
Abramson Scroll Award
National Association of Business Economists
2008
Research Fellowship Award
Brookings Institution
1984
1985
Teaching Excellence Award
Boston College
1984
True
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

Andrea Batch

Economist
Photo of Andrea Batch.
Andrea.Batch@bea.gov

 

 
Batch
Ph.D.
University of Maryland, College Park
Information Studies
2021
M.A.
University at Albany
Economics
B.Sc.
University at Albany
Economics
Information Olfactation: Harnessing Scent to Convey Data
IEEE VIS, Berlin, Germany
Adaptive Immersive Analytics
MAVRIC, College Park, MD
Evaluating Information Visualization in Virtual Reality with Economists Using ImAxes
HCIL 35th Annual Symposium, College Park, MD
The Interactive Visualization Gap in Initial Exploratory Data Analysis
IEEE VIS, Phoenix, AZ
True
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

Google Scholar Page

 

Benjamin R. Bridgman

Assistant Chief Economist
Photo of Benjamin R. Bridgman.
benjamin.bridgman@bea.gov
(301) 278-9012

 

 
Bridgman
Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Economics
2003
B.A.
University of Chicago
Economics
1995
Macroeconomics
International trade
Industrial organization
True
External Pub Title
Is Labor's Loss Capital's Gain? Gross versus Net Labor Shares
Macroeconomic Dynamics
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman
2018
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1365100516001000
External Pub Title
Structural Transformation, Marketization, and Household Production around the World
Journal of Development Economics
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman, Georg Duernecker, Berthold Herrendorf
2018
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeedeveco/v_3a133_3ay_3a2018_3ai_3ac_3ap_3…
External Pub Title
Home Productivity
Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman
2016
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeedyncon/v_3a71_3ay_3a2016_3ai_3ac_3ap_3a…
External Pub Title
Do Intangible Assets Explain High U.S. Foreign Investment Returns?
Journal of Macroeconomics
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman
2014
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeejmacro/v_3a40_3ay_3a2014_3ai_3ac_3ap_3a…
External Pub Title
International Supply Chains and the Volatility of Trade
Economic Inquiry
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman
2013
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/blaecinqu/v_3a51_3ay_3a2013_3ai_3a4_3ap_3a…
External Pub Title
Market Entry and Trade Weighted Import Costs
Canadian Journal of Economics
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman
2013
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/cjeissued/v_3a46_3ay_3a2013_3ai_3a3_3ap_3a…
External Pub Title
The Rise of Vertical Specialization Trade
Journal of International Economics
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman
2012
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeeinecon/v_3a86_3ay_3a2012_3ai_3a1_3ap_3a…
External Pub Title
Heterogeneous Car Buyers: A Stylized Fact
Economic Letters
External Pub Authors
Ana Aizcorbe, Benjamin Bridgman, Jeremy Nalewaik
2010
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeeecolet/v_3a109_3ay_3a2010_3ai_3a1_3ap_3…
External Pub Title
Energy Prices and the Expansion of World Trade
Review of Economic Dynamics
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman
2008
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/redissued/06-199.htm
External Pub Title
Vested Interests and Technology Adoption
Journal of Monetary Economics
External Pub Authors
Benjamin Bridgman, Igor Livshits, James MacGee
2007
https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeemoneco/v_3a54_3ay_3a2007_3ai_3a3_3ap_3a…
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

Google Scholar Page

 

Carter Bryson

Research Economist
Photo of Carter Bryson
Carter.Bryson@bea.gov
Bryson
Ph.D.
Boston College
Economics
2023
M.A.
Boston College
Economics
2019
B.A.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Economics and Mathematics
2015
Macroeconomics
Labor Economics
True
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

 

 

Gary Cornwall

Research Economist
Photo of Gary Cornwall.
Gary.Cornwall@bea.gov
(301) 278-9146

Working Papers

  • Spatial Durbin Mixture Models
  • Bayesian Predictive Inference for Granger Causality
    • with Jeff Mills, Beau Sauley, and Huibin Weng
  • Regression Discontinuity in Network Models: Non-linear Partial Effects and Spillovers
    • with Beau Sauley
  • Where do I fit in? Examining Employee Membership Profiles
    • with Suzanne Masterson and Jaclyn Perrmann-Graham

Selected Publications

 
Cornwall
Ph.D.
University of Cincinnati
Economics
2017
M.A.
University of Cincinnati
Economics
2012
B.A.
University of Cincinnati
Economics
2010
Applied Bayesian Econometrics
Spatial and Network Econometrics
Regional and Urban Economics
Time Series Econometrics
True
External Pub Title
Predictive Testing for Granger Causality via Posterior Simulation and Cross Validation
Advances in Econometrics, forthcoming
External Pub Authors
Cornwall G., Mills, J., Sauley, B., Weng, H
External Pub Title
Embracing heterogeneity: the spatial autoregressive mixture model
Regional Science and Urban Economics, Volume 64
External Pub Authors
Cornwall, G., Parent, O.
2017
Pages 148-161, ISSN 0166-0462
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166046216301004
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

Google Scholar Page

 

Abe C. Dunn

Assistant Chief Economist
Photo of Abe C. Dunn.
abe.dunn@bea.gov

 

 
Dunn
Ph.D.
University of Texas at Austin
Economics
2006
B.A.
University of Oregon
Economics and Mathematics
2000
Health
Applied Econometrics
Industrial Organization
True
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

 

 

Dennis J. Fixler

Chief Economist
Photo of Dennis J. Fixler.
dennis.fixler@bea.gov

 

 
Fixler
Ph.D.
Purdue University
Economics
1978
M.S.
Purdue University
Economics
1975
B.A.
Boston University
Economics (Magna Cum Laude)
1974
Chief, Division of Price and Index Number Research
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Adjunct Professor, Department of Economics
George Washington University
Assistant Professor, School of Business Administration
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Associate Editor Journal of Productivity Analysis
Vice President, Society for Economic Measurement
International Advisory Committee, International Productivity Monitor
True
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
True
False
True
Bureau of Economic Analysis

Dennis Fixler is Chief Economist of the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

 Dr. Fixler is primarily responsible for statistical quality including source data, methods, interagency data sharing, dissemination policies, and leading selected research efforts. He also coordinates cross-program research projects.

Prior to joining BEA in June 2001, Dr. Fixler was at the Bureau of Labor Statistics; most recently serving as Chief of the Division of Price and Index Number Research. Previous positions were at the Federal Trade Commission and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has written articles on index number theory and construction, with particular attention to the development and implementation of service price indexes, as well as on other economic measurement issues. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Purdue University.

 

Marina Gindelsky

Research Economist
Photo of Marina Gindelsky.
marina.gindelsky@bea.gov
(301) 278-9220

 

 
Gindelsky
Ph.D.
George Washington University
Economics
2015
M.A.
Brandeis University, International Business School
International Economics and Finance
B.A.
Brandeis University
Economics, International and Global Studies
Research Associate
Economics Department, George Washington University
2011
2016
Short-term Consultant
World Bank
2013
2015
True
External Pub Title
Testing the acculturation of the 1.5 generation in the United States: Is there a "critical" age of migration?
Review of Economics of the Household
2018
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11150-017-9400-2
External Pub Title
Demography, urbanization and development: Rural push, urban pull and…urban push?
Journal of Urban Economics
External Pub Authors
Marina Gindelsky, Remi Jedwab, Luc Christiaensen
2017
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094119015000601
External Pub Title
Determinants of Bilingualism Among Children
Economics of the Household
External Pub Authors
Marina Gindelsky, Barry Chiswick
2016
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11150-015-9301-1
External Pub Title
Poverty and Shared Prosperity in Uruguay
Shared Prosperity and Poverty Eradication in Latin America and the Caribbean (World Bank)
External Pub Authors
Marina Gindelsky, O. Barriga Cabanillas, M. Lugo, C. Rodriguez-Castelan, and L.D. Sousa
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21751
External Pub Title
Killer Cities or Baby Bust? New Evidence on 250 Years of Economic Growth
External Pub Authors
Marina Gindelsky, Remi Jedwab
2018
External Pub Title
Improving the measure of the distribution of Personal Income
External Pub Authors
Marina Gindelsky, David Johnson, Dennis Fixler
http://www.iariw.org/copenhagen/gindelsky.pdf
External Pub Title
Valuing Housing Services in the Era of Big Data: A User Cost Approach Leveraging Zillow Microdata
External Pub Authors
Marina Gindelsky, Scott Wentland, Jeremy Moulton
2018
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

 

Projects: Distribution of Personal Income

 

Justine Mallatt

Research Economist
Photo of Justine Mallatt.
Justine.Mallatt@bea.gov

 

 
Mallatt
Ph.D.
Purdue University
Economics
True
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

 

 

Scott Wentland

Research Economist
Photo of Scott Wentland.
Scott.Wentland@bea.gov
(301) 278-9022

 

 
Wentland
Ph.D.
George Mason University
Economics
2009
M.A.
Miami University (OH)
Economics
2007
B.A.
Miami University (OH)
Economics & Political Science
2005
Applied Microeconomics
Housing/Real Estate/Urban Economics
Applied Econometrics
Associate Professor of Economics (with tenure)
Longwood University
2015
2015
Assistant Professor of Economics
Longwood University
2009
2015
True
Office of the Chief Economist
Office of the Chief Economist
False
False
True

Google Scholar Page