Nicola Persico
John L. and Helen Kellogg Professor of Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences
Professor of Weinberg Department of Economics (courtesy)
Dr. Persico is currently the John L. and Helen Kellogg Professor of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He received his PhD in Economics from Northwestern University in 1996, and spent one year on the faculty at UCLA prior to joining Penn in 1997, where he was granted tenure. He moved to NYU in 2006 as Professor of Economics, and Professor of Law and Society. Dr. Persico joined, Kellogg in 2011. Dr. Persico has received a number of honors and fellowships, including several National Science Foundation Grants, and he was an Alfred P. Sloan research fellow from 2002-2004. He served on the editorial board of the International Economic Review, has been associate editor of Econometrica, of The American Economic Review, and of the Journal of the European Economic Association, and co-editor of Theoretical Economics and of the Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization. He is currently a co-editor of the RAND Journal of Economics. Dr. Persico has published in the areas of political economy, law and economics, and labor economics.
- Contract Theory
- Economics of Organizations
- Political Economy/Design
- Labor Economics
- Microeconomics
- Game Theory
- Political Economy
- Business Strategy
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PhD, 1996, Economics, Northwestern University
PhD, 1995, Mathematical Economics, Trieste, Italy
Laurea, 1991, Economics, Università Bocconi, Magna cum Laude -
Professor, Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2011-present
Professor (courtesy), Economics, Northwestern University, 2011-present
Research Associate, NBER, 2006-present
Professor, Economics and Law and Society, New York University, 2006-2011
Associate Professor, Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 2001-2006
Visiting Fellow, Economics, Princeton University, 2001
Assistant Professor, Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 1997-2001
Assistant Professor, Economics, UCLA, 1996-1997 -
Fellow of the Econometric Society
Chairs' Core Course Teaching Award, 2017-18 -
Editor, RAND Journal of Economics, 2020-2023
Editorial Board, Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization, 2017-2020
Co-Editor, Theoretical Economics, 2011-2015
Board of Editors, American Economic Review, 2009-2011
Associate Editor, Econometrica, 2009-2011
Associate Editor, Journal of the European Economic Association, 2009-2011
Editorial Board, International Economic Review, 2001-2006
Research in Economics (MECS-560-3)
This course introduces first-year PhD students to the economics research environment. With an emphasis on breadth, and minimal prerequisite knowledge at the graduate level, students are exposed to the process of forming and answering research questions. The course involves multiple faculty providing their perspective on successful approaches to research by highlighting significant recent works in their respective fields of interest.
Political Economy I: Introduction to Political Economy (MECS-540-1)
This course is designed as an introduction to the field of political economy. Covered topics include: the function of the state; freedom, collective action, and morality; models of voting; nondemocracies; bureaucracies and state capacity; separation of powers and civil society, including media and activism; budget deficits; and the political role of business organizations. The class will cover models, stylized facts, and empirical findings. After taking this course, students will be able to generate their own research ideas and position them within the broader field of political economy.
Cybersecurity Essentials for Leaders
Cybersecurity has evolved from being strictly an IT concern to become a key strategic consideration for organizations. This program will provide leaders and board members with an understanding of current and emerging risks and how to develop an effective cybersecurity strategy.
;Strategy Beyond Markets (PACTX-441-0)
"All economic systems are defined by ""rules of the game:"" laws, regulations, and implicit norms of behavior that structure market competition. Examples include: antitrust legislation; regulatory compliance requirements; privacy regulation and norms; intellectual property rules; product liability rules; barriers to exports; etc. Successful companies excel at reacting to, and influencing, these rules. Disney, for example, successfully lobbied to extend the duration of copyright protection, thus prolonging its exclusive ownership of the Mickey Mouse character. In another example, Monsanto has long been seeking to overcome European Union regulatory barriers to genetically modified crops. Often, success in these ""non-market"" endeavors is critical for sustaining market competitiveness of a single firm or of a whole industry. In this class you will learn how to think strategically about the rules of the game, and how to make the rules of the game work for your company."
Strategic Crisis Management (PACTX-440-0)
Strategy Beyond Markets (PACT-441-0)
Many business models are hostage to laws and regulations (Uber, AirBnB, Facebook, fracking, ...). Other business models cater specifically to existing regulations (electric vehicles, e.g.). These laws and regulations represent the "rules of the competitive game." These rules of the game favor some business models over others, but they are not fixed: they are subject to change. Uber, for example, is able to gain a license to operate by changing the rules of the competitive game in a given jurisdiction. The rules of the game also vary significantly across countries. This class will teach you: who makes the rules of the competitive game, whether they can realistically and ethically be changed, and how to know whether the existing rules of the game are favorable to your business model. The analytical framework for beyond-market strategy goes beyond that of traditional competitive strategy. Beyond-market strategy is an emerging discipline which combines elements of competitive strategy, political science, and game theory. The grading is based on in-class group assignments, an individual mid-term exam, and a final group project due before the end of finals week. There is no final exam.
Leadership and Crisis Management (PACT-440-5)
This course was formerly known as KPPI 440-A
In recent decades corporations have increasingly become the dominant source for political and social change. Increased globalization and technological progress have further accelerated this process. Businesses are now held accountable by standards other than legal compliance or financial performance. Successful business leaders have recognized that these challenges are best mastered by a commitment to values-based management. However, simply "doing the right thing" is not enough. Rather, companies increasingly find themselves as targets of aggressive legal action, media coverage and social pressure. Organizations must be prepared to handle rapidly changing environments and anticipate potential threats. This requires a deep understanding of the strategic complexities in managing various stakeholders and constituencies. To confront students with these challenges in a realistic fashion, the class is structured around a rich set of challenging case studies and crisis simulation exercises.
