Hilary Hoynes named to Newsom’s new Council of Economic Advisors

Hilary Hoynes, professor of public policy and economics and the Haas Distinguished Chair in Economic Disparities in the Goldman School of Public Policy, has been appointed to serve on Governor Gavin Newsom’s Council of Economic Advisors. 

Professor Hoynes’ research focuses on poverty, inequality, food and nutrition programs, and the impacts of government tax and transfer programs on low-income families. Current projects include evaluating the effects of access to the social safety net in early life on later-life health and human capital outcomes, examining the effects of the Great Recession on poverty, and the role of the safety net in mitigating income losses.

Professor Hoynes currently serves on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Building an Agenda to Reduce the Number of Children in Poverty by Half in 10 Years and co-directs Berkeley’s Opportunity Lab.

“The challenges and opportunities facing California often serve as the frontier of public policy for the rest of the nation,” says Professor Hoynes. “I am honored to be a part of this Council and excited to support the Governor’s priorities around homelessness and housing insecurity, investments in children and inequality.”

The 13-member council will be co-chaired by Laura D Tyson, distinguished professor at the Graduate School and faculty director of the Institute for Business & Social Impact at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Maurice Obstfeld, Class of 1958 Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley is also on the council.