Burton Weisbrod

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Burton Weisbrod is an American economist known for his work in the field of public economics and the economics of nonprofit organizations. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of the role of nonprofit organizations in the economy and the provision of public goods.

Early Life and Education

Burton Weisbrod was born in New York City. He earned his B.A. degree from Oberlin College and his Ph.D. in economics from Northwestern University.

Academic Career

Weisbrod has held faculty positions at several prestigious institutions, including University of Wisconsin–Madison and Northwestern University. He is currently the John Evans Professor of Economics at Northwestern University.

Contributions to Economics

Weisbrod is best known for his research on the economics of nonprofit organizations. His work has explored the reasons why nonprofit organizations exist, how they operate, and their impact on the economy. He has also studied the provision of public goods and the role of government and private sector in their provision.

Nonprofit Organizations

Weisbrod's research has shown that nonprofit organizations often arise to fill gaps left by the private sector and government. He has argued that these organizations play a crucial role in providing services that are not adequately supplied by the market or the state.

Public Goods

In his work on public goods, Weisbrod has examined the challenges associated with their provision. He has highlighted the difficulties in funding and delivering public goods, given their non-excludable and non-rivalrous nature.

Selected Publications

Weisbrod has authored and edited numerous books and articles on public economics and nonprofit organizations. Some of his notable works include:

• The Nonprofit Economy
• To Profit or Not to Profit: The Commercial Transformation of the Nonprofit Sector
• Public Interest Law: An Economic and Institutional Analysis

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Weisbrod has received several awards and honors for his contributions to economics. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has served as president of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

Personal Life

Weisbrod resides in Evanston, Illinois with his family. He continues to be active in research and teaching.

See Also

• Public economics
• Nonprofit organization
• Public goods
• Economics of the public sector