Prof Dr. Michael Podgursky, University of Missouri, United States
Prof. Dr. Michael Podgursky is a prominent economist with a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Cum Laude B.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Currently, he serves as the Chancellor’s Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Columbia and has held various influential roles, including Director of the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research at Saint Louis University. A respected member of professional organizations such as the American Economic Association and the Society of Labor Economists, Dr. Podgursky’s research focuses on the economics of education, education policy, and teacher labor markets, with notable contributions to the understanding of personnel policies and teacher quality. His commitment to teaching excellence is recognized through multiple awards, including the Kemper Teaching Fellowship and the Purple Chalk Teaching Award, underscoring his dedication to advancing education economics through impactful research and education.
Professional Profile:
Suitability for the Award:
Prof. Dr. Michael Podgursky’s extensive contributions to the economics of education make him highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. His work on teacher labor markets, education policy, and pensions has had a significant influence on both academic understanding and practical policymaking in the U.S. and beyond. His leadership in research centers, engagement with education policy think tanks, and consistent publication record demonstrate his ability to drive forward innovative research that has a real-world impact.
Academic Background
Prof. Dr. Michael Podgursky earned his Ph.D. (1980) and M.A. (1976) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, following a Cum Laude B.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1974). His extensive education laid a strong foundation for his influential career in economics.
Professional Associations
A respected member of various professional organizations, Dr. Podgursky is affiliated with the American Economic Association, the Society of Labor Economists, and the Association for Education Finance and Policy. He also serves as a Co-Investigator at CALDER, is an Affiliated Scholar at CESifo in Munich, and holds a Fellowship at the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.
Current Employment
Currently, he is the Chancellor’s Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Columbia (since Fall 2018) and served as the Director of the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research at Saint Louis University from June 2019 to June 2023. His previous roles include Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute.
Research Focus
Dr. Podgursky’s research centers on the economics of education, education policy, teacher labor markets, and labor economics. His notable work includes exploring personnel policies and teacher quality across different school types, as highlighted in his publication in Charter School Outcomes (2017).
🏆 With numerous teaching awards, including the Kemper Teaching Fellowship and the Purple Chalk Teaching Award, Prof. Dr. Podgursky is dedicated to advancing the field of education economics through research and exceptional teaching.
Publication Top Notes:
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Title: Teacher Pension Plan Incentives, Retirement Decisions, and Workforce Quality
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Title: Pensions and Late-Career Teacher Retention
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Title: Pensions Under Pressure: Charter Innovation in Teacher Retirement Benefits
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Title: Labor Market Frictions and Production Efficiency in Public Schools
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Title: Teams versus Bureaucracies: Personnel Policy, Wage Setting, and Teacher Quality in Traditional Public, Charter, and Private Schools