Kathy Krynski joined the Department of Economics in 1986. She has taught a broad array of applied economics courses including labor economics as well as core courses in microeconomics and econometrics. She also teaches seminars on the economics of women and work, the economics of education and the economics of the family.

She was trained as a labor economist and spent a year as a visiting economist at the Social Security Administration working on labor supply and retirement issues. Krynski also has conducted joint research with David Harrington on the economic effects of state regulations on funeral markets and the earnings of funeral directors. They have also investigated whether native workers are being displaced due to the entry of Vietnamese into the market for manicurists and how the displacement rate is affected by differences in state regulations. She also served as associate provost from 1999-2002. Prior to Kenyon she held faculty appointments at Pomona College and the University of Notre Dame.

Areas of Expertise

Applied microeconomics, labor economics

Education

1987 — Doctor of Philosophy from Univ of Wisconsin-Madison

1980 — Master of Science from Univ of Wisconsin-Madison

1977 — Bachelor of Arts from Pomona College

Courses Recently Taught

This course is an intensive study of the fundamental logic of economic behavior primarily within the context of a market economy. The course develops a systematic analysis of consumer and producer behavior, linked together through the principles of exchange and market structure. The resulting explanation of product prices and factor rewards is used to evaluate and analyze economic efficiency and the distribution of welfare under alternative economic policies and conditions. This course is required for the major. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and ECON 102, and a college level calculus course or a score of 4 or 5 on the Calculus AP exam. This course cannot be taken as pass/D/fail. Offered every fall semester.

This course provides an introduction to the economic analysis of labor markets. Topics include the determinants of labor demand and labor supply; the theory of compensating wage differentials; formation of human capital; discrimination in the workplace; public policy toward the workplace; and the determinants of earnings inequality. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and 102. Generally offered every other year.

This seminar studies the empirical testing of economic models. The seminar's focus will vary depending on the instructor. Possible topics include instrumental variable analysis, time series analysis, panel data analysis or limited dependent variables. Each student will undertake and report on a research project. This counts toward the seminar requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ECON 101, 102 and 205. Generally offered every other year.

This seminar examines the role of women in the labor market and how that role has changed over time. This examination involves a comparison of women and men with respect to labor supply (for both market and nonmarket work), wage rates, occupational choices and unemployment levels. The seminar evaluates economic models that attempt to explain differences among labor market outcomes for men and women. Finally, the seminar examines some public policy proposals that are aimed at remedying gender differences in work opportunities and pay. Each student will write and present a seminar paper. This counts toward the seminar requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and 102. Generally offered every other year.

This seminar uses economic theory and empirical analysis to examine both the role of education in the economy and current educational policy debates. The seminar will review the basic theory of investments in education (human capital theory) and investigate the empirical problem of disentangling the impact of education on earnings from the impact of innate ability as well as the association between education and individual earnings and reasons why that relationship has changed over time. The seminar also will examine the role of early childhood education, the main approaches to K-12 school reform and the issues of cost and access to higher education. Each student will write and present a seminar paper. This counts toward the seminar requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and 102. Generally offered every other year.