Skip to Content

The University of Texas at Austin

Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

James K. Galbraith

Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair in Government/Business Relations and Professor of Government

Contact Info:
Phone: 512-471-1244
Email: galbraith@mail.utexas.edu

Office Hours:
Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

James K. Galbraith teaches at the LBJ School. He holds degrees from Harvard and Yale (Ph.D. in economics, 1981). He studied as a Marshall Scholar at King's College, Cambridge in 1974-1975, and then served in several positions on the staff of the U.S. Congress, including Executive Director of the Joint Economic Committee. He was a guest scholar at the Brookings Institution in 1985. He directed the LBJ School's Ph.D. Program in Public Policy from 1995 to 1997. He directs the University of Texas Inequality Project, an informal research group based at the LBJ School.

Galbraith's new book is The Predator State: How Conservatives Abandoned the Free Market and Why Liberals Should Too (2008). He is the author of Balancing Acts: Technology, Finance and the American Future (1989) and Created Unequal: The Crisis in American Pay (1998). Inequality and Industrial Change: A Global View (Cambridge University Press, 2001), is coedited with Maureen Berner and features contributions from six LBJ School Ph.D. students. He has co-authored two textbooks, The Economic Problem with the late Robert L. Heilbroner and Macroeconomics with William Darity, Jr.

Galbraith is a Senior Scholar of the Levy Economics Institute and Chair of the Board of Economists for Peace and Security, a global professional network. He writes a column for Mother Jones, and occasional commentary in many other publications, including The Texas Observer, The American Prospect, and The Nation.

Education

Ph.D., Yale University, 1981; M. Phil., Yale University, 1978; M.A., Yale University, 1977; A.B. (magna cum laude), Harvard University, 1974

Current Positions

Chair, Economists for Peace and Security; Senior Scholar, Levy Economics Institute; Nonresident Fellow, Center for Global Development; Associate Member, Cambridge Center for Economic and Public Policy, University of Cambridge; columnist, Mother Jones

Previous Positions

Visiting scholar, The Brookings Institution (1985); Executive Director, Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress (1981-1982); economist, Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives (1975-76, 1977-80); visiting lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Maryland (1979-1980).

Predator State: How Conservatives Abandoned the Free Market and Why Liberals Should Too (The Free Press, August 2008), Unbearable Cost: Bush, Greenspan and the Economics of Empire (Palgrave-MacMillan, 2006), Inequality and Industrial Change: A Global View (Cambridge University Press, 2001); Created Unequal: The Crisis in American Pay (1998); Macroeconomics (Houghton-Mifflin, 1994); The Economic Problem (Prentice Hall, 1990); Balancing Acts: Technology, Finance and the American Future (Basic Books, 1989)

Economics
International Affairs
Science and Technology Policy
Trade

News

We Need a Second Stimulus Immediately, Says James Galbraith - Yahoo FinanceNov. 20, 2009
'A Truly Extraordinary Slump': Reports of Robust Recovery Premature, James Galbraith Says - Yahoo FinanceNov. 19, 2009
Another Crash, Another Galbraith - Bill MoyersOct. 30, 2009
Galbraith Expects U.S. Unemployment to `Linger' at 10%: Video - BloombergOct. 29, 2009
FDL Book Salon Welcomes Robert D. Auerbach, Deception and Abuse at the Fed: Henry B. Gonzalez Battles Alan Greenspan’s Bank by James GalbraithOct. 24, 2009
Recession at an end? Not so fast, economic guru saysOct. 15, 2009
Rein in entitlements? No. Increase them, says James GalbraithOct. 8, 2009
Interview with James GalbraithOct. 3, 2009
Forget Reform, Galbraith Wants a "Total Restructuring" of Wall StreetSep. 14, 2009
Where will the next wave of well-paying jobs come from?Sep. 9, 2009
A 'New World Order' May Not be Good for Real Estate IndustrySep. 9, 2009
A year after financial crisis the consumer economy is deadSep. 8, 2009
Economist: U.S. won't tolerate a 'lost decade'Sep. 4, 2009
Fed-Up: Did Ben Bernanke really save America's financial system?Sep. 2, 2009
Obama's deficit problem: $1.58 trillion is the new $455 billionAug. 25, 2009
Economy: A 'Fed' for Fiscal Policy?Aug. 24, 2009
Nonfiction Reviews: 8/24/2009Aug. 24, 2009
Unemployment dips, but long-term joblessness remains a concernAug. 8, 2009
LBJ School Professor James K. Galbraith Lends Voice of Expertise to National and International Economic IssuesJul. 20, 2009
Is California Printing Its Own Money?Jul. 13, 2009
Dr. James Galbraith, Professional Fed KillerJul. 11, 2009
Comments on the World Situation - Delivered to the Russian Academy of Science (audio)Jul. 11, 2009
Fed fights House attack on powersJul. 11, 2009
Comments on the World Situation- Delivered to the Russian Academy of SciencesJul. 11, 2009
Regulatory Restructuring: Balancing the Independence of the Federal Reserve in Monetary Policy with Systemic Risk RegulationJul. 9, 2009
Business Visionaries: James GalbraithJul. 7, 2009
Why hasn't the stimulus trickled down?Jul. 6, 2009
Economic Snapshots PodcastJul. 3, 2009
Financial and Monetary Issues as the Crisis UnfoldsJul. 1, 2009
Outsider in the world of economics takes a dim view of 'rotten' banksJun. 18, 2009
What is Fiscally--And Politically--'Sustainable'?Jun. 8, 2009
ILR Podcast: Interview with James K. GalbraithJun. 5, 2009
Galbraith Warns on Pay EqualityJun. 5, 2009
Lecture on Economic CrisisJun. 5, 2009
Unemployment predicted to keep rising after recessionJun. 5, 2009
Il faut remplacer les grands banquiers!Jun. 4, 2009
ANALYSIS-US economy at risk of double-dip recessionMay. 26, 2009
Top Houston CFOs Honored at LuncheonMay. 22, 2009
Galbraith and Lind on Social SecurityMay. 21, 2009
Big, Bigger, and Too BigMay. 15, 2009
Causes of the CrisisMay. 1, 2009
Economic Strings Attached?Apr. 29, 2009
Dean’s Forum: UT Professors Discuss Economic Outlook at Obama’s First 100 Days in OfficeApr. 29, 2009
Talk given to the Unitarian-Universalist Policy Forum, Austin, TXApr. 26, 2009
Panel at the Levy Economics Institute's Minsky ConferenceApr. 18, 2009
James K. Galbraith on the Recovery to Come: Remarks to the 18th Annual Conference Honoring Hyman MinskyApr. 18, 2009
William K. Black on Geithner: "The Guy Has a Track Record of Failure Everywhere He's Gone"Apr. 7, 2009
A Working Man's Tax BreakApr. 7, 2009
"The Economic Crisis and the Obama Response"Apr. 6, 2009
Panelists debate stimulus' meritApr. 6, 2009
A 'people first' strategy: Credit cannot flow when there are no creditworthy borrowers and no profitable projectsMar. 27, 2009
Neither a Hedgehog Nor a Fox: The unbearable lightness of Obama's administrationMar. 20, 2009
Fixing the Financial CrisisMar. 12, 2009
Talking Economic Accountability with Economist James GalbraithMar. 10, 2009
Expert Blogs: Is the Economic Forecast Too Optimistic?Mar. 9, 2009
Baja la Lupa: El Plan Galbraith para salvar a Estados Unidos (y a Mexico?)Mar. 8, 2009
Combater a desigualdade e a forma mais eficaz de enfrentara criseMar. 5, 2009
Ivory Tower Unswayed by Crashing EconomyMar. 4, 2009
Ivory Tower Unswayed by Crashing EconomyMar. 4, 2009
Expert Blogs: What Role Have Sticky Wages and Prices Played?Mar. 2, 2009
James Galbraith: Obama Isn't Doing Enough to Solve the Financial CrisisFeb. 26, 2009
LBJ Professors Galbraith, Sasse, Granof Offer Frank, Timely Analysis of U.S. Federal Budget, Bail-outFeb. 24, 2009
White House to host fiscal responsibility summitFeb. 20, 2009
Economists, Hickey Discuss Fiscal Responsibility SummitFeb. 19, 2009
Obama administration's economic recovery plan not well-received by economic expertsFeb. 11, 2009
Economist James Galbraith: Bailed-Out Banks Should Be Declared InsolventFeb. 10, 2009
Galbraith on the crash...it has a familiar ringFeb. 4, 2009
Liberal View on Stimulus: James GalbraithFeb. 4, 2009
James K. Galbraith talks on the stimulus package on the Diane Rehm Radio ShowFeb. 2, 2009
Galbraith Doesn't See Financial Crisis Ending Anytime SoonFeb. 2, 2009
Expert Blogs: Economy, Fiscal Balance and CredibilityFeb. 2, 2009
Stimulating the Economy, Now and in the FutureFeb. 2, 2009
What's Missing in the Stimulus Package? Act on a Larger ScaleJan. 28, 2009
Expert Blogs: Economy, Nationalizing the BanksJan. 26, 2009
James K. Galbraith's interview with Robert McChesneyJan. 25, 2009
LBJ School's James K. Galbraith Talks on the Roots of the Financial CrisisJan. 13, 2009
Most Valuable Progressives of 2008Dec. 31, 2008
'The Predator State' One of USA Today's Best of 2008Dec. 26, 2008
Making the Green Industries Shovel-Ready for Obama's Jobs ProgramDec. 23, 2008
An Obama Holiday: What to Give a Progressive President and his TeamDec. 5, 2008
Is the Deficit a Threat to a Future Recovery?Dec. 4, 2008
Government Widens Support for Home Loans, CreditNov. 25, 2008
This week in Magazines:Obama-ManiaNov. 9, 2008
America unboundNov. 9, 2008
Obama needs to 'think big'Nov. 6, 2008
LBJ Faculty Experts Providing Post-Election Analysis and PerspectiveNov. 6, 2008
PlanNov. 1, 2008
Questions for James K. Galbraith The PopulistOct. 31, 2008
Bill Moyers Journal: James K. GalbraithOct. 24, 2008
Infrastructure is a constructive ideaOct. 24, 2008
Between Covers: An Annual Celebration of LBJ Faculty AuthorsOct. 23, 2008
Twin giants of postwar liberalismOct. 21, 2008
Galbraith clan could raise a double toastOct. 17, 2008
Financial Bailout: American Communism Alive & Lives on 23rd StreetOct. 16, 2008
Forget the Debt: James K. Galbraith on What Happens After the BailoutOct. 16, 2008
Democrats’ plan: New Deal 2.0?Oct. 14, 2008
News Media Propaganda Helped Push Through Failed BailoutOct. 14, 2008
Can This Economic System Be Saved?Oct. 14, 2008
In Dismal Times, Economists Try to Shape Financial DebatesOct. 10, 2008
Balance Due: Faculty experts provide analysis on nation’s financial crisisOct. 7, 2008
LBJ Faculty Providing Expert Commentary and Analysis on U.S. Financial CrisisOct. 3, 2008
Book Review: 'The Predator State'Sep. 26, 2008
Professor James K. Galbraith lending voice of expertise to U.S. financial crisisSep. 25, 2008
Undressing the Body PoliticSep. 14, 2008
Predatory PachydermsSep. 5, 2008
James Galbraith's 'Predator State': damning, incisiveAug. 3, 2008
Galbraith takes on the predatorJul. 25, 2008
The Predator StateJul. 20, 2008
On Policy, Obama Breaks Little New GroundMay. 29, 2008
James Galbraith Says Housing Problem to Last `Long Time': VideoMay. 16, 2008
Jones of DMJ Says Fed Should Emphasize Inflation Risks: VideoApr. 28, 2008
Reversal of FortuneApr. 8, 2008
News@LBJMar. 26, 2008
A government cure to the sliding economyMar. 19, 2008
We already own the banks-- shouldn't we run them?Feb. 19, 2008
A Stimulus Plan with Dual Goals: Reform and RecoveryJan. 31, 2008
A criminal idea - Attacking other countries to stop them acquiring nuclear weapons repudiates a key principle of international lawJan. 25, 2008
Why aren't energy, food in inflation rate?Dec. 13, 2007
Bruce Bartlett to discuss Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy at LBJ School talkApr. 10, 2006
Student policy conference on poverty to feature keynote by economist James K. GalbraithMar. 30, 2006
LBJ School faculty in the newsDec. 9, 2005
LBJ School presents fall 2005 Ph.D. Colloquium SeriesSep. 28, 2005

Analysis and Commentary

Prelude to DisasterApr. 15, 2009
No Return to Normal: Why the economic crisis, and its solution, are bigger than you thinkMar. 21, 2009
The Johnson Legacy and the Obama ChallengeMar. 11, 2009
Due Diligence, Damn ItFeb. 13, 2009
Unemployment During the New Deal Era by James K. GalbraithJan. 21, 2009
Stimulus Is for SuckersDec. 8, 2008
What Kind of Economy?Feb. 16, 2007
Development's DiscontentsSep. 25, 2006
Hanging Chads a la MexicanaAug. 5, 2006

Courses

SemesterCourse
Spring 2010P A 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy: Understanding the Financial Crisis
Spring 2010P A 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy: Inequality
Spring 2009P A 095 - Public Affairs Colloquium
Spring 2009P A 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy: Understanding the Financial Crisis
Fall 2008P A 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy: Inequality
Fall 2008P A 095 - Public Affairs Colloquium
Fall 2008P A 393L - Advanced Policy Economics: Macroeconomic Theory & Policy
Spring 2008P A 095 - Public Affairs Colloquium
Spring 2008P A 391C - Policy Research Paradigms
Fall 2007P A 393L - Advanced Policy Economics: Macroeconomic Theory & Policy
Fall 2007P A 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy: Development, Globalization, and Crisis
Fall 2007P A 095 - Public Affairs Colloquium
Spring 2007P A 391C - Policy Research Paradigms: Frameworks for Social Science Research
Spring 2007P A 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy: Inequality
Spring 2007P A 095 - Public Affairs Colloquium
Fall 2006P A 095 - Public Affairs Colloquium
Spring 2006P A 095 - Public Affairs Colloquium
Spring 2006P A 391C - Policy Research Paradigms: Frameworks for Social Science Research
Fall 2005P A 393L - Advanced Policy Economics: Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
Fall 2005P A 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy: Globalization, Development, & Crisis
Spring 2005P A 391C - Policy Research Paradigms