Welcome

I am Elise S. Brezis, Professor of Economics at Bar-Ilan University and Head of the Israel Macroeconomic Forum.

My main field of research is macroeconomics, and more specifically, historical macroeconomics — exploring how geopolitics shapes economic growth.

I earned my Ph.D. from MIT, where my two advisors were Peter Temin (who sadly passed away) and Paul Krugman. I have had the privilege of co-authoring papers and books with both of them — with Peter on Elites and Economic Growth, and with Paul on Leapfrogging, a subject I continue to explore, since one of the most pressing questions of our time remains:

Will China leapfrog the West?

Beyond academia, I lead the Israel Macroeconomic Forum, where economists from the central bank, government, academia, and the private sector engage -- both in meetings and through WhatsApp discussions -- in open, respectful debate on Israel's key macroeconomic challenges. These exchanges help us interpret data more deeply and better understand how policies shape the economy.

In the Research section, you will find the other themes I work on. For example, in the field of institutions and governance, I developed the concept of bureaucratic capital, which examines the economics of the "revolving door." For this work, I received the 2020 Elinor Ostrom Prize.

In my CV, you'll see that I have been a visiting professor in several universities across East Asia — including CEIBS Shanghai, Nanjing University, and KNU in South Korea. These experiences profoundly shaped my understanding of the ongoing competition between East and West.

I hope you enjoy exploring my papers and the variety of topics I work on — from macroeconomics and geopolitics to education and institutions. You can also discover the various areas of policy and governance where I've tried to make a difference:

I served as President of the Israeli Association for European Studies, sat on investment boards in both the private sector and academia (including the Endowment Board of Bar-Ilan University), and acted as a consultant for the Council for Higher Education, the Manufacturers Association, and the Ministry of Science.

One of my most meaningful contributions has been as an expert witness in judicial cases, where I developed economic models for compensatory labor litigation — models that continue to influence the compensation amounts awarded in Israeli courts today.

When you see me speaking on television or at conferences, you will notice that I am always full of energy — because I truly believe that economic knowledge can change the course of human society.