Economic Costs of Climate Change Discussed at MBL Falmouth Forum Season Finale

Benjamin Jones will discuss climate change and economics at the final MBL Falmouth Forum of the season on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 PM in the MBL’s Lillie Auditorium, 7 MBL Street in Woods Hole. Sponsored by the MBL Associates, and generously supported this season by Sandy and David Bakalar, the event is free and open to the public.

Scholars have wondered for centuries about the link between climate and economic development. Understanding these linkages in the context of climate change has become all the more urgent.  Jones will review a rapidly expanding body of research that sheds light on how, when, and where temperature and other climatic variables influence economic outcomes. His talk will also consider the implications of recent research findings for public policy.

Jones is a Professor of Strategy at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His research considers obstacles to growth in developing countries, with recent work considering subjects such as national leadership, higher education, and climate change. He also studies the forces that drive technological progress in advanced economies, with recent work examining the relationship between age and creativity and the role of collaboration in innovation. Jones's publications have appeared in leading academic journals such as the Review of Economic Studies, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Science, and have been profiled in media outlets such as CNN, the Economist, and the Freakonomics blog of the New York Times.

An optional buffet dinner will precede the lecture at 6:00 PM at the MBL’s Swope Center, 5 North Street, Woods Hole. Tickets are $30 (meal includes salad, pasta or potatoes, two entrees, wine, dessert, tax and gratuity) and must be purchased in advance at Eight Cousins Bookstore, Main Street, Falmouth or at the MBL Communications Office, 127 Water Street, Woods Hole. Dinner tickets are available until they sell out or until 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 10. For more information, contact the MBL Communications Office at (508) 289-7423 or comm@mbl.edu.

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The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery and improving the human condition through research and education in biology, biomedicine, and environmental science. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago. 

The MBL Associates are a group of individuals and businesses that support the scientific mission of the MBL through their gifts to the Annual Fund. The Associates sponsor educational and research programs for the MBL and raise funds for special projects. In addition, they operate the MBL Gift Shop, located on Water Street in Woods Hole, the profits from which support scientific fellowships.