Shelley Phipps

Shelley Phipps is a trailblazing Canadian economist. Shelley obtained her Ph.D. from UBC and has published over 60 articles in journals such as the Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Human Resources, Canadian Journal of Economics, and Canadian Public Policy, as well as dozens of government reports, book chapters, and other publications. At Dalhousie University, where she is Maxwell Chair of Economics, Shelley is legendary for the patient supervision, motivation, and unwavering encouragement she gives graduate students.

She was one of the first economists to create models that afford children voice and agency. Her research on public policy and families has influenced generations of economists and policy makers, from her early work on poverty measurement to her most recent research on children’s health, well-being and academic achievement. Her work within the economics profession has promoted greater equity within the profession; her research provides the intellectual and practical building blocks for designing policies that promote people’s – and especially children’s – well-being.

Shelley has a distinguished history of service to the Canadian economics profession. She has been particularly active in promoting women and gender equity within the economics profession, serving as one of the first presidents of the Canadian Women Economists Network, and a role model to others.