Hannes Schwandt Named to Capital Magazine's '40 under 40'
IPR scholar receives recognition from German business magazine
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IPR economist Hannes Schwandt, a professor in the School of Education and Social Policy, was named one of Capital magazine’s “Young Elite - the Top 40 under 40” this year in the society and science category.
Capital is a German monthly business magazine established in 1956. The “Young Elite” award honors leaders, thinkers, and innovators who have had success and impact in their field and show potential for great achievement.
Schwandt’s research centers on the human impacts of economic fluctuations, looking at how economic growth or downturns impact people’s health, wellbeing, and happiness. His interest in happiness and its relationship with economics began when he was growing up in Germany, wondering about the societal trends behind things like fulfillment and satisfaction.
In research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Schwandt looked at the impact of unemployment on women, finding an increase in childlessness during the Great Recession of 2008–09. In a study published by the American Economic Journal, he examined the physical and mental health of elderly people in relation to stock market trends, finding significant correlation between stock market holdings and health markers like blood pressure and heart disease.
Recently, Schwandt’s research has focused on environmental factors like pollution, violence, and illness. In one study, he examined how car companies found to be cheating on emissions tests impacted birth weights and asthma in over 38,000 children from families buying what they thought were environmentally conscious vehicles.
Also on Capital magazine’s list is Kellogg professor Jörg Spenkuch, making Northwestern one of only two U.S. institutions, along with Harvard University, with more than one faculty member on the list.
Hannes Schwandt is assistant professor of human development and social policy and an IPR fellow.
Published: November 24, 2020.
