Economics Department
Washington and Lee’s Department of Economics seeks to give its students a fundamental understanding of economic processes and institutions with an emphasis on the liberal arts. Students learn to think critically using analytical tools, allowing them to apply theory to economic and social issues.
With the empirical tools of the discipline, students also develop an ability to evaluate the validity of theoretical predictions. Additionally, students develop communication skills, making graduates well-suited to address complex issues in today’s world.
Art Goldsmith to Deliver 2026 Provost’s Lecture
The annual address that celebrates W&L faculty excellence in scholarship and teaching will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 in University Chapel.
Office of Community-Based Learning Announces 2026-27 Faculty Collaborative
This year’s collaborative includes 16 faculty members representing a variety of disciplines.
On the Map
This summer, students in W&L’s Summer Research Scholars program are taking an interdisciplinary and interactive approach to environmental studies with ArcGIS mapping software.
Q&A: Are wildfires getting worse?
An environmental economist and former U.S. Forest Service firefighter, W&L’s Cal Bryan discusses what the public needs to know about the current state of wildfire management and prevention.
Economics Professor Delivers Keynote Address at the European Society for Empirical Legal Studies Annual Conference
Peter Grajzl’s lecture focused on his research studying the evolution of English law in the early modern and industrialization eras and the law’s impact on the economy.
Staying Involved Through Spring Term
Abroad and on campus, W&L alumni donated their time and shared their knowledge and experiences to enhance several Spring Term courses.
W&L’s Tom Finnegan ’26 Awarded U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Finnegan is looking forward to sharing his passion for sustainable food systems with the students at a “green” school near Klagenfurt am Wörthersee.
W&L Economics Professor Co-Authors Paper in Science
Cal Bryan and colleagues from the University of California, Davis studied the costs and benefits of using fuel treatments as a land management practice in the Western U.S.
W&L’s Sandrine Uwantege ’27 Receives Davis Projects for Peace Grant
The grant will support Uwantege’s work to empower and expand opportunities for first-time teenage mothers in her home country of Rwanda.
Meet Will Knight ’26
Knight says the opportunity to pursue different extracurriculars, including football, track & field and fly fishing, has been invaluable.
W&L’s Patrick Solcher Awarded Fulbright to Spain
For Solcher, teaching English in Spain is an opportunity to meaningfully immerse himself in a new culture and continue building his language skills.
W&L Announces 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
This year’s honorees will be recognized during Alumni Weekend from April 30-May 3.
A Career in Economics
American Economic Association
