Bradley A. Hansen

Education

Ph.D. Economics, Washington University
Dissertation: "The Origins of Bankruptcy Law in the United States, 1789-1898"

M.Sc. Economic History, The London School of Economics

B.A., Liberal Arts, The Evergreen State College

Recent Papers

“Constraining the state’s ability to employ force: the standing army debates, 1697-99,” (with Shawn Humphrey) Journal of Institutional Economics forthcoming.

“Religion, Social Capital and Business Bankruptcy in the United States, 1921-1932” (with Mary Eschelbach Hansen) Business History 50 (November 2008): 714-727.

“Path Dependence in the Development of U.S. Bankruptcy Law, 1880-1938” (with Mary Escehlbach Hansen) Journal of Institutional Economics August 2007.

“New Evidence on Race Discrimination Under ‘Separate But Equal’,” (with Mary Eschelbach Hansen) Essays in Economic and Business History 24(2006).

"An Economic Analysis of Adoption from Foster Care," (with Mary Eschelbach Hansen) Child Welfare (May/June 2006).

Books

Palgrave Macmillan March 2009

T]his volume provides a clearly written introduction to the structure and performance of the American economy. Hansen begins by using the basics of supply and demand to examine how markets work. After discussing measures of economic performance, including gross domestic product, unemployment, and inflation, Hansen covers issues of long-term growth, short-run fluctuations, and economic policy. The bulk of the text describes the economic roles of businesses, households, the government, and the foreign sector. Current controversies such as globalization and immigration are touched upon. The book also includes sources of current economic information, a chronology of important economic events, and a glossary. Primarily descriptive with economic terminology and theory employed sparingly, this book will be a useful resource for novice readers wanting an accessible introduction to the American economy. Highly recommended. General readers and all levels of undergraduate students.
—Choice September 2006

Current Research

Explaining Bankruptcy: An Analysis of State Bankruptcy Rates During the Great Depression (with Mary Eschelbach Hansen).

Legal Rules and Bankruptcy Rates: Evidence From the States (with Mary Eschelbach Hansen).

Don’t Put the Cart Before the Horse: Teaching the Economic Approach to Empirical Research (with Mary Eschelbach Hansen).

Here is a link to my CV