Jean Kimmel

Dr. Jean Kimmel is a professor in the Department of Economics at Western Michigan University. Her current research largely focuses on analyzing time use data drawn from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS).  Recent research conducted jointly with Professor Rachel Connelly of Bowdoin College uses the ATUS to study the evolution of mothers’ time use, changing leisure time patterns, and use of the ATUS to study eldercare.

Prior to joining the Economics faculty at WMU in Fall 2001, Dr. Kimmel was Senior Economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo, MI.

Professor Kimmel regularly teaches an introductory economics course (Econ 1020, WES Level 1)) called Economics in our Daily Lives, which serves to expose students to the “economics way of thinking” along with some exposure to the variety of topics studied by economists.  She also frequently teaches the Economics of Gender and Race (Econ 3090, WES Level 2), which uses the fact-based economic lens to examine marriage, fertility and employment patterns, along with selected supplemental topics that vary from year to year. Recent examples include a review of the link between early 20^th century US housing policy and current racial disparities in wealth, gender earnings gaps, efforts to balance work and family, and the particular challenges faced by men and boys in modern American life. 

Other courses taught by Kimmel at WMU include:

• Principles of Microeconomics
• Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
• Labor Economics (undergraduate and graduate)