Department SummaryUCLA’s Economics Department has two interlocking objectives. We conduct cutting edge research by developing new methodologies and applying them to understand society’s most critical issues. We also seek to train the next generation of economic leaders in the private sector, government and academia. UCLA is one of the top-ranked economics departments in the world. We have a young and active faculty whose research is shaping policy and informing the public on critical issues affecting the United States and the world. Our work covers a diversity of topics such as the origins and persistence of the Great Depression and its lessons for today’s economy, the relationship between education and health outcomes, cartels and antitrus