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Benjamin Edelstein

Assistant Professor of Economics

Benjamin Edelstein is an Assistant Professor of Economics in the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2025.

His research focuses on the intersection of the environment and cities, with emphasis on urban, environmental, and public economics. His work has examined how local management of water scarcity affects new housing supply and residential water use in Colorado, the mobility patterns of residents moving into and out of gentrifying neighborhoods, and the origins of risky mortgage lending during the global financial crisis of the late 2000s.

Previously, Dr. Edelstein was an adjunct fellow and research associate at the American Enterprise Institute's Housing Center. He holds a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from the University of Southern California. More information about his research is available on his website: https://sites.google.com/view/benjonomics/home.

Education

  • PhD, Applied Economics, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
  • BA, Economics and International Relations, University of Southern California

Research Interests

  • Urban and environmental economics
  • Housing markets
  • Water use

Professional Employment

  • Assistant Professor, Loyola University Chicago, 2025-Present

Professional/Community Affiliations

  • Member, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association
  • Member, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists

Courses Taught

  • Urban Economics
  • Intermediate Microeconomics
  • Principles of Microeconomics

Publications/Research Listings

Ferreira, Fernando, Jeanna Kennedy, and Benjamin Edelstein (2024). Household Mobility, Networks, and Gentrification of Minority Neighborhoods in the United States. Journal of Labor Economics. https://doi.org/10.1086/728805

Davis, Morris, William Larson, Stephen Oliner, and Benjamin Edelstein (2023). A Quarter Century of Mortgage Risk. Review of Finance. https://doi.org/10.1093/rof/rfac034

Edelstien, Benjamin (2025). Water Scarcity Management and Housing Markets: Evidence from Water Impact Fees in Colorado. Working Paper. https://sites.google.com/view/benjonomics/jmp

Awards

  • Honorable mention, UEA student paper competition, 2024
  • Federation of American Scientists’ Housing Ideas Challenge Finalist, 2024
  • Runner-up for the Pagano and Zechner Price, Review of Finance Otherwise, 2023
  • Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s Babbitt Dissertation Fellowship, 2022
  • Amy Morse Prize, 2020
  • Wharton Doctoral Education and Research Fellowship, 2019