2025 Leon N. Moses Distinguished Lecture in Transportation

Schedule

Wed Nov 05 2025 at 07:30 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

Northwestern University - Lutkin Hall | Evanston, IL

Advertisement
Richard Hornbeck
V. Duane Rath Professor of Economics and Neubauer Family Faculty Fellow, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
About this Event

Amplified Gains from Transportation Infrastructure Investments

Abstract:

Traditional methods of evaluating infrastructure investments assume that other sectors of the economy are functioning well and efficiently. In practice, this is generally not true. Some of the goods shipped sell in markets that are not very competitive. Firms may also have difficulty accessing financing to take advantage of new opportunities. Using the example of the expansion of the railroads in the late 1800s, the talk illustrates that failing to take these non-transportation distortions into account lead to a substantial understatement of the role of the railroads in the aggregate growth of the United States. This framework can be applied generally to reconsider the economic gains from future transportation infrastructure investments.

Bio:

Richard Hornbeck is the V. Duane Rath Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Rick is an economic historian and applied-micro economist, whose research focuses on the historical development of the American economy. He views history as informing why some places and some people have become wealthier, while others have remained poorer, which can provide perspective on what factors might drive widespread improvements in living standards. He is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, affiliated with programs on the Development of the American Economy, Development Economics, and Environmental and Energy Economics.

Prior to joining Chicago Booth in 2015, Rick was the Dunwalke Associate Professor of American History in the Economics Department at Harvard University. He received an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship in 2014 and was selected for the 2009 Review of Economic Studies Tour. He received a PhD in economics from MIT in 2009 and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Chicago in 2004.


Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Northwestern University - Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place, Evanston, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 0.00

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Northwestern University Transportation Center

Host or Publisher Northwestern University Transportation Center

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Evanston

Podcasting 101: Idea to Pilot to Prime Time
Wed, 05 Nov at 06:30 pm Podcasting 101: Idea to Pilot to Prime Time

709 Main St, Evanston, IL, United States, Illinois 60202

WORKSHOPS
Ben Clanton's Potato Party!
Wed, 05 Nov at 06:30 pm Ben Clanton's Potato Party!

Roycemore School

KIDS PARTIES
Charlie Hunter Trio (Early) in Evanston
Wed, 05 Nov at 07:00 pm Charlie Hunter Trio (Early) in Evanston

Space

CONCERTS MUSIC
Sanctuary Stories: A Journalism Theater Project
Wed, 05 Nov at 07:00 pm Sanctuary Stories: A Journalism Theater Project

McCormick Foundation Center

ART MUSIC
In-Person: Awesome Australia
Thu, 06 Nov at 02:00 pm In-Person: Awesome Australia

Three Crowns Park, Evanston, IL

DE Design Sports: Putting Ideas Into Play #2!
Thu, 06 Nov at 05:30 pm DE Design Sports: Putting Ideas Into Play #2!

Evanston SPACE

SPORTS ART
Northwestern Wildcats vs. Boston University Terriers
Thu, 06 Nov at 06:00 pm Northwestern Wildcats vs. Boston University Terriers

Welsh Ryan Arena

CALENDAR
From Vine to Wine:  How Wine is Made
Thu, 06 Nov at 07:00 pm From Vine to Wine: How Wine is Made

The Wine Goddess

WORKSHOPS
Evanston Real Estate Investing Strategies
Wed, 18 Jan at 08:00 pm Evanston Real Estate Investing Strategies

Weblink Provided Upon Registration

Fran Lebowitz at Cahn Auditorium
Thu, 23 Oct at 08:00 pm Fran Lebowitz at Cahn Auditorium

Cahn Auditorium

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Lease, Lunch & Learn
Fri, 24 Oct at 12:00 pm Lease, Lunch & Learn

Robert Crown Community Center

The 39th Annual Black Management Association Conference
Sat, 25 Oct at 09:00 am The 39th Annual Black Management Association Conference

Kellogg School of Management

WORKSHOPS
IN FOCUS LECTURE: \u201cFreedom in Form: Richard Hunt\u201d  with Ross Stanton Jordan
Sun, 26 Oct at 03:00 pm IN FOCUS LECTURE: “Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt” with Ross Stanton Jordan

Evanston Art Center

ART EXHIBITIONS
Kellogg Private Equity & Venture Capital Conference 2025
Wed, 29 Oct at 08:30 am Kellogg Private Equity & Venture Capital Conference 2025

Kellogg School of Management (White Auditorium)

BUSINESS CONFERENCES
Workforce Wednesday Evanston: Employers & Resources | 10.29.2025
Wed, 29 Oct at 11:00 am Workforce Wednesday Evanston: Employers & Resources | 10.29.2025

Evanston Public Library

WORKSHOPS
Curator Talk: Frankenthaler\u2019s Circle
Thu, 30 Oct at 03:00 pm Curator Talk: Frankenthaler’s Circle

Block Museum of Art

EXHIBITIONS
Sir Woman
Thu, 30 Oct at 06:00 pm Sir Woman

Evanston Space

CONTESTS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Wed, 05 Nov at 07:30 pm 2025 Leon N. Moses Distinguished Lecture in Transportation

Northwestern University - Lutkin Hall

NONPROFIT
2025 Nemmers Prize Conference
Fri, 07 Nov at 09:00 am 2025 Nemmers Prize Conference

Kellogg Global Hub

BUSINESS CONFERENCES
48th Annual Benefit
Sat, 08 Nov at 06:00 pm 48th Annual Benefit

Palmhouse, 619 Howard Street, Evanston, IL 60202

ART LITERARY-ART

What's Happening Next in Evanston?

Discover Evanston Events