Regular biography
Jeffrey Williamson is a Professor of Economics at Harvard University, affiliated with the Department of Economics. He is also the Laird Bell Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Honorary Fellow in the Department of Economics at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and Research Fellow for the Center for Economic Policy Research. Williamson served as Chairman of the Economics Department from 1997 to 2000 and as the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies in multiple terms. He was Master of Harvard's Mather House from 1986 to 1993 and twice-recipient of the Galbraith Prize for the best teacher in Harvard's graduate economics program. He was also past-President of the Economic History Association and received the Hughes Prize for outstanding teaching in 2000. Williamson retired from Harvard in July 2008 and continues to conduct research on economic history and the contemporary Third World.