Gavin Wright is the William Robertson Coe Professor of American Economic History. His research interests center on the historical record of the American economy, specifically the institutional and cultural foundations of the country’s rise to world economic pre-eminence. This historical research has also given rise to policy work on the relationship between natural resources and economic development.
Professor Wright has a longstanding interest in the economy of the American South, and has published three books on that subject, most recently: Slavery and American Economic Development (Louisiana State University Press, 2006).His current research focuses on the economic causes and consequences of the Civil Rights Revolution.
Professor Wright received his BA from Swarthmore College and his Ph.D. from Yale University.He has been at Stanford since 1982.Professor Wright served as Chair of the Economics Department on two occasions, 1989-1993 and 2000-2002.
