Economics touches every aspect of society. This is no less true in February, designated as Black History Month, or more recently, as Black Heritage Month. Whichever the preferred name of the observance, Black economists, both historical and contemporary, are major figures in the discipline.

Contemporary

Names of thirty-two Black economists populated a non-exhaustive list of contemporary, influential Black African practitioners provided by Marlène Koffi, Assistant Professor with the Department of Economics. Accomplishments of the group include senior appointments to the Center for Global Development, the World Bank, and one served a term as a head of state. They also represent academic appointments at the world’s most prominent universities, including three at the University of Toronto.

Koffi herself joined the University of Toronto in 2020. Her research interests are broadly concerned with the Economics of Innovation and Science with a more specialized focus on equity issues that is evident in both her scholarly publications and her editorial contributions to media outlets like the Globe and Mail and the Hill Times. She also examines the application of deep learning, machine learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques to both research studies and to the creation of public policies. To that end, she is affiliated with National Bureau of Economic Research, the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, and the Forward Society (FOS) Lab. [Read more…]