Olivia Mitchell on Her Career in Economics and Retirement Policy

The die was cast early for Wharton professor of business economics and public policy Olivia Mitchell to become an economist. Both her parents were economists, and her father’s career as a diplomat brought her to several developing countries including Peru and Chile. Subliminal reinforcement came from the clock on the kitchen table with the words “Time is money.” That has guided her work over a career spanning more than four-and-a-half decades, especially in her role as executive director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council. In a conversation with Wharton Dean Erika James, Mitchell discusses her career path, her research, and how we can make better decisions about retirement, among other topics.

This talk is part of the series “What I’ve Learned,” which puts the spotlight on Wharton faculty who have made a lasting impact on their fields.

----- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is committed to sharing its intellectual capital through Knowledge at Wharton, the school’s online business analysis journal.

Launched in 1999, Knowledge at Wharton offers free access to:

- Articles, podcasts, and videos highlighting Wharton faculty research and analysis of current business trends - Interviews with book authors from Wharton School Press - In-depth series of curated content like Wharton Executive Education’s Nano Tools for Leaders - A searchable database of more than 10,000 articles covering all aspects of business - A weekly newsletter that delivers Knowledge at Wharton insights directly to your inbox

Visit the Knowledge at Wharton homepage: https://whr.tn/3qUpSBE Subscribe to the Knowledge at Wharton YouTube channel: https://whr.tn/3DEAgAU 📂 Finance & Accounting;Markets & The Economy;Public Policy 🏷️ Research;What I've Learned