Kenneth Gerald Elzinga American economist Country: USA

1. Kenneth Gerald Elzinga: American Economist and Author
2. Acclaim as an Economist
3. Personal Interests
4. Contributions and Recognitions
5. Academic Career

Kenneth Gerald Elzinga: American Economist and Author

Kenneth Gerald Elzinga is an American economist, professor of economics at the University of Virginia, and author of over fifty scientific publications, including topics such as aviation industry deregulation, predatory pricing, and the development of the brewing industry.

Acclaim as an Economist

Elzinga gained recognition through his extensive experience as a professor in the field of antitrust policy. He also achieved fame through his collaboration with William Breit, a retired professor from Trinity University, on three highly successful detective novels. These novels feature a Harvard economist and amateur detective named Henry Spearman who solves murders using principles of economics. The novels were published under the pseudonym Marshall Jevons, combining the names of economic pioneers Alfred Marshall and William Stanley Jevons. Notably, the second novel in the series became the first detective novel ever published by the academic publishing house MIT Press. Currently, these books are highly recommended for students studying economics.

Personal Interests

In addition to his professional pursuits, Elzinga is a passionate car enthusiast, particularly vintage racing cars produced before 1949. He also enjoys water skiing and owns a well-fed English bulldog named Rotunda. Elzinga is married to Terry Maguire Elzinga, and they reside in Charlottesville, Virginia, where the University of Virginia is located. Elzinga is open about his religious beliefs and is a devout Christian. Each year, he hosts several of his students for Thanksgiving.

Contributions and Recognitions

In 2009, Elzinga was one of the 200 economists who signed an open letter published by the libertarian Cato Institute protesting against "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," a law proposed by President Barack Obama's administration to stimulate the United States economy. The Southern Economic Association established the Kenneth G. Elzinga Distinguished Teaching Award to recognize outstanding achievements in the teaching of economics. Elzinga himself was the first recipient of the prestigious Cavaliers' Distinguished Teaching Professorship at the University of Virginia. In 1992, he received the highest honor the university can bestow upon a faculty member, the Thomas Jefferson Award.

Academic Career

Kenneth Elzinga's academic career spans over 45 years, beginning with his bachelor's degree from Kalamazoo College in 1963. He obtained his master's degree in 1966 and his Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University in 1967. Elzinga serves on the editorial boards of "The Journal of Markets and Morality" and "The Antitrust Bulletin." His research has been published in leading economic journals, and the Gus A. Stavros Center at Florida State University has recognized him as one of the most successful American university economics professors. Elzinga has also taught at the University of Cambridge, Trinity University, the University of Michigan, and Pepperdine University.