Ben Polak

Ben Polak
Provost of Yale University
In office
2013–2020
Preceded byPeter Salovey
Succeeded byScott Strobel
Personal details
Born (1961-12-22) December 22, 1961 (age 62)
EducationTrinity College, Cambridge (BA)
Northwestern University (MA)
Harvard University (PhD)
NationalityBritish
Children3[3]
AwardsDeVane Medal (2005) for teaching[1]
Scientific career
Fieldsdecision theory, game theory and economic history
InstitutionsNew Economic School
University of Melbourne
Yale University
Thesis Problems from the history of capital markets  (1992)
Doctoral advisorJeffrey G. Williamson[2]
Doctoral studentsMarzena Rostek

Benjamin "Ben" Polak (born 22 December 1961) is a British professor of economics and management and former Provost at Yale University. From 1999 to 2001 Polak was the Henry Kohn Associate Professor of Economics[4][5] and is now the inaugural William C. Brainard Professor of Economics.[6] In January 2013, he became the Provost of Yale University.[7]

Polak specialises in microeconomic theory, has published 19 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals, and is Associate editor of the Journal of Economic Theory.

In 2021 it was reported that Polak was responsible for Yale's decision to terminate the Yale Boswell Editions project, founded in 1949.[8]

Courses taught

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In fall 2007, Polak participated in the Open Yale Courses initiative, recording the 24 lecture series and making all course materials freely available on the Internet.[9] Polak describes the motivation for his participation in the scheme as delivering an Ivy League standard education to a wider audience, "It’s not the full Yale experience, unfortunately, but it’s something.”[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Polak and Prown are honored with DeVane Medals for teaching Yale Bulletin & Calendar, March 4, 2005 (Volume 33, Number 21)
  2. ^ Ben Polak at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
  3. ^ "Economics chair Benjamin Polak named new Yale provost". 14 January 2013.
  4. ^ Polak Assumes Kohn Associate Chair in Economics Yale Bulletin & Calendar, June 21-July 19, 1999
  5. ^ "Yale School of Management - Faculty - Benjamin Polak". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  6. ^ Benjamin Polak Is the Inaugural William C. Brainard Professor Archived July 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine from Yale University Office of Public Affairs, November 14, 2008
  7. ^ "Yale University - Official University Messages". Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  8. ^ https://boswelleditions.yale.edu/
  9. ^ ECON159 Game Theory Archived 2010-08-03 at the Wayback Machine with Professor Benjamin Polak at Open Yale Courses
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