Kathryn Shaw

The Ernest C. Arbuckle Professor of Economics
Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research
Academic Area:
Kathryn Shaw

Bio

Kathryn Shaw is The Ernest C. Arbuckle Professor of Economics at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Previously, Shaw was the Ford Distinguished Research Chair and Professor of Economics at the business school at Carnegie Mellon University. She completed her PhD in economics at Harvard University in 1981. Professor Shaw served as a senate-confirmed member of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers, 1999–2001, and has been an editor of the Journal of Labor Economics.

In recent work, Shaw evaluates the importance of bosses in improving the productivity of their subordinates. She (and her co-authors) show that a good boss can markedly improve his subordinate’s productivity now and into the future as the worker moves on. Shaw has also developed an interest in entrepreneurship, showing that serial entrepreneurs develop intangible capital that they take with them as they move from their first firm to a new more productive firm. In earlier work that has been published in the American Economic Review, and Management Science, she and her colleagues evaluate the effectiveness of complementary teamwork practices in the steel industry. She has also focused on the performance gains from new information technologies and the changes in management strategy towards product customization that enhance returns to investment. In related work on incentives in franchising, she shows how the optimal use of franchise contracts can increase brand value for franchise companies. Her research has been extensively funded by the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Russell Sage and Rockefeller Foundations, and the Department of Labor.

In 2001, Shaw received the Columbia University award for the best paper on international business, and in 1998, she was honored as the recipient of the Minnesota Award for Employment Research for the best paper in 1997–98 on the topic of employment issues. She held a Stanford Graduate School of Business Trust Faculty Fellow in 2005-2006. She has been the recipient of the Xerox Research Chair, has served on a research panel of the NSF, and was an editor of the Review of Economics and Statistics. At Carnegie Mellon University, Shaw received the award for Sustained Teaching Excellence, the Economics Department Teaching Award, was chair of the Faculty Senate, and was head of the Department of Industrial Management.

Stanford GSB Affiliations

  • South Africa MBA Study Trip Committee 2014
  • University Committee on Graduate Studies 2013–present
  • University Committee on Faculty Staff Human Resources 2013–present
  • Data Center Report Committee 2011–2012
  • Management-X Committee 2011–2012
  • Kenya MBA Study Trip Committee 2012
  • Academic Coordinating Committee 2010–present
  • Faculty Liason GSB Student Newspaper 2010–2011
  • University Committee on Evaluation of Human Resources 2009–2010
  • Committee on Faculty Staff Human Resource 2007–2009
  • Co-Director Stanford GSB Summer Institute 2004–present
  • Philippines MBA Study Trip Committee 2006

Academic Degrees

  • PhD, Economics, Harvard University, 1981
  • AB, Economics & Mathematics, Occidental College, 1976

Academic Appointments

  • At Stanford University since 2003
  • Visiting Professor, University of London, Spring 2019
  • Visiting Professor, MIT Sloan, Fall 2018
  • Visiting Professor, IZA, May 2014
  • Visiting Professor, University of Paris, December 2009
  • Ford Distinguished Research Chair, Professor of Economics, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, 2002–03
  • Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1997–2003
  • Associate Professor of Economics with Tenure, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1994–97
  • Associate Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1989–94
  • Assistant Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University, 1981–89

Awards and Honors

  • Business School Trust Faculty Fellow, 2023–24
  • Michelle R. Clayman Faculty Fellow for 2021–22
  • BP Faculty Fellow in Global Management, Stanford GSB, 2020–21
  • Honorary Doctorate, Maastricht University, 2019
  • Co-lead (with Edward Lazear), Personnel Economics group, NBER, 2007-present
  • Trust Faculty Fellow, Stanford GSB, 2011–12
  • Fellow, Society for Labor Economics, 2008
  • Trust Faculty Fellow, Stanford GSB, 2005–06
  • Special Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence, Economics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 2003
  • Teaching Award Commendation, Carnegie Mellon University Business School, 2002
  • Best Paper on International Business, Columbia University, 2001
  • Teaching Award Commendation, Carnegie Mellon University Business School, 2000
  • Teaching Award Commendation, Carnegie Mellon University Business School, 1999
  • Minnesota Award for Best Paper on employment Institutions, 1998
  • Xerox Research Chair, GSIA, Carnegie Mellon University, 1992–93
  • Teaching Award, Carnegie Mellow University, Department of Economics, 1992
  • Harvard University Graduate Student Fellowship, 1976–79
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Magna cum laude, Departmental honors in Economics, 4.0 Graduate in Mathematics, Occidental College, 1976
  • Valedictorian, Verdugo Hills High School, 1972

Service to the Profession

Research

    • Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research(NBER), 1995–present
    • Research Fellow, IZA, 2012–present
    • Research Fellow, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), 2004–2018
    • Research Fellow, Center for Corporate Performance (CCP), Denmark, 2004–2015

    Editorial and Professional Panel

      • Board Member, Society for Labor Economics, 2013–present
      • Editor, IZA World of Work, personal Finance, 2012–present
      • STEP Board, National Academy of Science, 2011–present
      • Editorial Advisory Board Member, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2008–2010
      • Outside Review Panel, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, 2009
      • The Conference Board, Evidence-Based HR Research Working Group, 2007–2009
      • Bennett Award Committee (chair), AEA, CSWEP, 2008–2009
      • Mincer Award Committee, Society of Labor Economists, 2006–2008
      • John Dunlop Award Committee, Labor and Employment Relations Associations, 2006–2008
      • Associate Editor, Review of Economics and Statistics, 2003–2011
      • Editor(Associate), Journal of Labor Economics,1999, 2001–2008
      • Outside Review Panel, Management and Strategy, Kellogg School, Northwestern University, 2006
      • Outside Review Panel, Economics Research Department, Chicago Federal Reserve, 2005
      • NSF Advisory Panel, 1997–1999, 2001–2003
      • American Compensation Association, Academic Research Committee, 1997–1999, 2001–2003
      • IRRA, Labor Economics Subsection, co-chair,1996–1999
      • Associate Editor, Journal of Regional Science, 1994–1997

      Research Grants

        • Smith Richardson Foundation, April 2014–December 2016, $257,565
        • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, January 2003–2009, $1,000,000
        • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, January 2003–December 2005, $90,000
        • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Officers’ Planning Grant, June 2002–December 2002 $45,000
        • Russell Sage Foundation, August 1999–September 2002, $300,000
        • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, June 1994–December 2002, $700,000
        • National Science Foundation, January 1995–April 1999, $350,000
        • Department of Labor, October 1994–August 1997, $76,000
        • National Science Foundation, October 1993–October 1995, $98,000
        • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, June 1991–June 1994. Award to project I headed, about $216,000
        • W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, January 1991–June 1992, $30,000
        • National Science Foundation, June 1987–anuary 1989, $27,000
        • Social Impact of Information and Robotics Technology, 1983–1984, $20,000
        • Doctoral Dissertation Grant, US Department of Labor, 1980–1981

        Professional Experience

        • Council of Economic Advisors, Executive Office of the President, Member (Senate Confirmed, June 2000), 1999–2001
        • Affiliated Faculty, Heinz School of Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 1996–2003
        • Department Head, Industrial Management Department, 1987–90
        • Department Head, Economics Department (Acting), 1989
        • Visiting Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, 1984–86
        • Assistant Head Tutor in Economics, Harvard University, 1978–81
        • Research Staff Economist, Center for Policy Alternatives, MIT, 1977–79

        Research Statement

        Kathryn Shaw’s most recent research focuses on managing talent in high performance organizations. She studies how firms attract and build star talent in the software industry and in a wide range of knowledge-intensive industries. More broadly, Professor Shaw studies how companies can achieve measurable rates of return from investing in human resource management practices that are aimed at improving the performance of workers or teams of workers. She is identified as a co-developer of the field of “insider econometrics,” in which researchers use internal “inside” company data to study the performance gains from practices such as teamwork and incentive pay.

        Journal Articles

        Kathryn Shaw, Anders Sørensen
        Labour Economics
        August 2022 Vol. 77
        Kathryn Shaw, Anders Sørensen
        Sage Journals
        July 17, 2019 Vol. 72 Issue 5 Pages 1225–1261
        Edward Lazear, Kathryn Shaw
        Journal of Labor Economics
        January 2018 Vol. 36 Issue 1 Pages 1-12
        Edward Lazear, Kathryn Shaw, Christopher T. Stanton
        Journal of Labor Economics
        January 2018 Vol. 36 Issue 1 Pages 133-181
        Ann P. Bartel, Brianna Cardiff-Hicks, Kathryn Shaw
        Industrial Labor Relations Review
        May 16, 2016 Vol. 70 Issue 2 Pages 336-358
        Kathryn Shaw, Francine Lafontaine
        Journal of Labor Economics
        February 11, 2016 Vol. 34 Issue S2 Pages S217-S254
        Edward Lazear, Kathryn Shaw, Christopher Stanton
        Journal of Labor Economics
        January 2016 Vol. 34 Issue 1 Pages 333-360
        Edward Lazear, Kathryn Shaw, Christopher Stanton
        Journal of Labor Economics
        October 2015 Vol. 33 Issue 4 Pages 823-861
        Brianna Cardiff-Hicks, Francine Lafontaine, Kathryn Shaw
        Industrial Labor Relations Review
        February 25, 2015 Vol. 68 Issue 3 Pages 633-665
        Kathryn Shaw
        Labour Economics
        September 11, 2009 Vol. 16 Issue 6 Pages 607-617
        Fredrik Andersson, Matthew Freedman, John Haltiwanger, Julia Lane, Kathryn Shaw
        The Economic Journal
        June 2009 Vol. 119 Issue 538 Pages F308–F332
        Kathryn Shaw, Edward Lazear
        Labour Economics
        August 2008 Vol. 15 Issue 4 Pages 704-723
        Kathryn Shaw
        The Quarterly Journal of Economics
        November 1, 2007 Vol. 122 Issue 4 Pages 1721-1758
        Kathryn Shaw, Brent Boning, Casey Ichniowski
        Journal of Labor Economics
        October 2007 Vol. 25 Issue 4 Pages 613-650
        Kathryn Shaw, Edward Lazear
        Journal of Economic Perspective
        2007 Vol. 21 Issue 4 Pages 91-114
        Kathryn Shaw, Francine Lafontaine
        The RAND Journal of Economics
        2005 Vol. 36 Issue 1 Pages 131-150
        Casey Ichniowski, Kathryn Shaw
        Journal of Economic Perspectives
        2003 Vol. 17 Issue 1 Pages 155-180
        Jon Gant, Casey Ichniowski, Kathryn Shaw
        Journal of Economics and Management Strategy
        2002 Vol. 11 Issue 2 Pages 289-328
        Francine Lafontaine, Kathryn Shaw
        Journal of Political Economy
        1999 Vol. 107 Issue 5 Pages 1041-1080
        Casey Ichniowski, Kathryn Shaw
        Management Science
        1999 Vol. 45 Issue 5 Pages 704-721
        Casey Ichniowski, Kathryn Shaw, Giovanna Prennushi
        American Economic Review
        1997 Vol. 87 Issue 3 Pages 291-313
        Kathryn Shaw
        Journal of Labor Economics
        October 1996 Vol. 14 Issue 4 Pages 626-653
        Kathryn Shaw, Casey Ichniowski
        Brookings Papers on Economic Activity: Microeconomics
        1995 Pages 1-65
        Kathryn Shaw
        The Review of Economics and Statistics
        May 1989 Vol. 71 Issue 2 Pages 196-205
        Kathryn Shaw
        The Journal of Human Resources
        1984 Vol. 19 Issue 3 Pages 319-340

        Non-Degree Courses

        Programs and Non-Degree Courses

        Cases

        Kathryn Shaw, Francois Chaubard, James Jedras
        2021
        Kathryn Shaw , Ian Cinnamon, James Jedras
        2021
        Kathryn Shaw, Debra Schifrin
        2015
        Kathryn Shaw, Debra Schifrin
        2015
        Kathryn Shaw, Debra Schifrin
        2015
        Kathryn Shaw, Debra Schifrin
        2015
        Kathryn Shaw, Debra Schifrin
        2015
        Katherine Bose, Kathryn Shaw
        2008
        Katherine Bose, Kathryn Shaw
        2008
        Bethany Coates, Kathryn Shaw
        2007
        E203
        Dani Kerrigan, Joanna Newman, Kathryn Shaw, Alex Tauber
        2005
        Carly Irestone, Kathryn Shaw, Angela Shelton, Alex Tauber
        2005

        In the Media

        Insights by Stanford Business

        November 03, 2021
        Getting a head start may help founders, but learning and taking risks are key to growth.
        September 09, 2021
        Members of the Stanford GSB faculty recommend some of their favorite programs.
        December 17, 2019
        New research shows that serial entrepreneurs’ companies outpace their novice counterparts in sales and productivity.
        May 22, 2017
        Economist Kathryn Shaw looks at how an aggressive law firm moved beyond “eat what you kill.”
        December 19, 2016
        Read 10 Stanford Business stories from the past year, including pieces on work-life balance, power, and management.
        December 15, 2016
        Faculty and guest speakers on topics ranging from storytelling to simplicity.
        October 06, 2016
        A good boss shares a vision, teaches well, and helps employees meet their career goals.
        June 20, 2016
        Pay attention to these issues and watch productivity go up.
        April 11, 2016
        Research shows how this recession bucked historical patterns.
        December 15, 2014
        Learn more about risk and other related topics.
        December 11, 2014
        From outer space to the boardroom, risk is all around us.
        December 05, 2014
        A new study compares pay scales at chain stores to mom and pop shops.
        September 27, 2012
        A new study finds that good middle managers add to workplace productivity.
        January 01, 2011
        New research shows that the most successful companies get their edge by paying star employees more than the competition to fuel innovation.
        March 01, 2008
        In a study of steel mills, rank-and-file workers in strategic teams were effective in tackling complex efficiency problems.
        November 01, 2005
        Research shows companies that spend heavily on advertising to build brand reputation own a higher percentage of franchise outlets for that brand.

        School News

        January 11, 2021
        “Eddie’s natural ability to see, analyze, and explain all the economics of any given situation was truly remarkable, and a textbook example of comparative advantage.”
        • Conference Committee Society of Labor Economics 2015
        • Distinguished Alumni Speaker, Occidental College 125th Year, 2012
        • Distinguished Women in Economics, Washington University, 2012
        • Keynote Speaker, Society of Labor Economists, 2012
        • Guest Lecturer, University of Paris, Science P-O, "What do CEOs Do?", 2009
        • Adam Smith Lecture, European Labor Economics Association, 2008
        • Keynote Address, Conference on Education, Training and the Evolving Workplace, TARGET, Vancouver, CanaDAM, 2006
        • Bertha Leigh Memorial Lecture, Washington State University, 2005
        • Slaon Industry Studies, Keynote Address, Atlanta, 2004
        • National Defense University, University Address, Washington DC, 2004
        • Conference Co-Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 24-25, 2014
        • Conference Co-Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 27-28, 2013
        • Conference Co-Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 26-27, 2012
        • Conference Co-Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 28-30, 2011
        • Conference Co-Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 27-30, 2010
        • Conference Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 26-30, 2009
        • Conference Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 30-31, 2008
        • Conference Organizer, NBER Personnel and Labor Studies, Summer Institute, July 29-30, 2007
        • Conference Co-Organizer and Sponsor, Conference on Firms and Employers, Ammersee, Germany, September 2006
        • Conference Organizer, NBER Summer Institute, Personnel Economics, Cambridge, July 28, 2006
        • Conference Co-Organizer, International Differences in the Business Practices and Productivity of Firms, Stanford University,2005
        • Conference Co-Organizer, “21st Century Human Resource Management Practices and Their Effects on Firms and Workers,”,2005