Benjamin Polak

Professor Polak is an expert on decision theory, game theory, and economic history. His work explores economic agents whose goals are richer than those captured in traditional models. His work on game theory ranges from foundational theoretical work on common knowledge, to applied topics in corporate finance and law and economics. Most recently, he has made contributions to the theory of repeated games with asymmetric information. Other research interests include economic inequality and individuals'' responses to uncertainty. Professor Polak is currently engaged in an ambitious empirical project that tackles questions of industrial organization in the setting of industrial revolution in England.

Education

• PhD , Harvard University, 1992
• MA , Northwestern University, 1985
• BA , Cambridge University, 1984

Achievements

• The Lex Hixon ''63 Prize for Teaching Excellence in the Social Sciences , Yale College, 2006
• Graduate Teaching Prize, Economics Department , Yale, 2005
• William Clyde DeVane Medal for undergraduate teaching and scholarship , Yale College, 2005
• Graduate Advising Prize , Economics Department, Yale, 2004
• Henry Kohn Associate Professor Chair , 1999-2001
• Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship , 1998
• Junior Fellow , Harvard University Society of Fellows, 1991-1994
• Harvard GSAS Merit Fellow , 1990-1991
• Harvard Economics "Goldsmith" essay prize , 1990
• Cambridge University Wrenbury Prize for Economics , 1984
• Trinity College Van Heyden de Lancey Prize , 1984

Selected articles

Mean-dispersion preferences and constant absolute uncertainty aversion S. Grant and B. Polak Journal of Economic Theory 2013

America's Hidden Austerity Program P. Schott & B. Polak New York Times 2012

Equally-distributed equivalent utility, ex post egalitarianism and utilitarianism S. Grant, A. Kajii, B. Polak and Z. Safra Journal of Economic Theory 2011

Generalized utilitarianism and Harsanyi's impartial observer theorem S. Grant, A. Kajii, B. Polak and Z. Safra Econometrica 2010

Introduction to judgment aggregation C. List and B. Polak Journal of economic theory 2010

Selected working papers

Regulating Consumer Bankruptcy: A Theoretical Inquiry B. Adler, B. Polak, and A. Schwartz 1999

Epistemic Conditions for Bayesian Equilibrium, and Common Knowledge Rationality B. Polak More Publications by Benjamin Polak