Economist Shelly Lundberg wins prestigious Mincer Award, releases book on gender economics
Shelly Lundberg
UC Santa Barbara economist and demographer Shelly Lundberg has received the 2026 Jacob Mincer Award from the Society of Labor Economists for her lifetime contributions to labor economics. Her research helped reshape the field by recognizing women as independent decision-makers within households and examining how social and cultural forces influence economic behavior.
Lundberg’s work has advanced understanding of how households respond to economic shocks and how differences in marriage, cohabitation and childbearing contribute to inequality. Her new book, How Economics Discovered Women: Bringing Gender Economics into the 21st Century, argues that outdated economic models limit understanding of persistent gender disparities, including occupational segregation and lower pay in female-dominated fields.
Beyond her research, Lundberg has addressed barriers facing women in economics through leadership, mentorship and advocacy. The award recognizes both her scholarship and her sustained efforts to improve the profession.
