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 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 AP calculus exam. This course cannot be taken as pass/D/fail. Offered every fall semester.

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 writes and presents a seminar paper. This counts toward the seminar requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and 102. Generally offered every other year.

This course is for students who wish to do advanced work beyond regular courses or to study subjects not included in course offerings. Credit for this course will count toward the major. The credit to be awarded and the exact structure of the course is determined by the instructor and approved by the department chair. Typical activities include regularly assigned readings of scholarly material, weekly meetings to discuss the readings, and a research paper project. Prerequisite: ECON 101, 102 and permission of instructor and department chair. Because students must enroll for individual studies by the end of the seventh class day of each semester, they should begin discussion of the proposed individual study by the semester before, so that there is time to devise the proposal and seek departmental approval.