The Society of Labor Economists


Jacob Mincer Award

HISTORY OF THE MINCER AWARD

On October 1, 2003, the SOLE membership voted 128-15 to ratify the following amendment to the Bylaws:

3. The Career Achievement Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Field of Labor Economics

To acknowledge a lifetime of contributions to the field of labor economics. To be awarded annually, if a suitable nominee is found, by a committee appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Board. (This language was adopted by the Executive Board in 2017 to make the award annual instead of biannual.)

The inaugural awards went to Jacob Mincer and Gary S. Becker on April 30, 2004. The award will henceforth be known as the Mincer Award.

2004 Nominating Committee: Larry Katz (chair), John Bound, Janet Currie, Hank Farber, Audrey Light, Steve Rivkin, Robert Willis, Finis Welch (ex-officio).

2004 Executive Board: Orley Ashenfelter, Francine D. Blau, Derek Neal, John Pencavel, Finis Welch.

2005 Awards -- Orley Ashenfelter & James Heckman
2006 Awards -- Richard Freeman & Edward Lazear
2007 Awards -- Dale Mortensen & Finis Welch
2008 Awards -- Reuben Gronau & John Pencavel
2009 Awards -- Claudia Goldin & Yoram Weiss
2011 Award -- Ronald Ehrenberg
2013 Award -- Daniel Hamermesh
2015 Award -- Robert Willis
2017 Award -- Francine Blau
2018 Award -- Henry Farber