About Us
Bringing together economists and researchers from other disciplines for one mission.
Minnesota Economics Big Data Institute (MEBDI) is a research institute at the University of Minnesota that focuses on applied social science research, which harnesses the power of big data under the guidance provided by economic principles. The institute brings together economists from the University of Minnesota economics department and outside researchers from broad backgrounds to contribute to this mission.
Our Mission
MEBDI’s core mission is to promote and produce applied social science research that combines the power of big data with the discipline imposed by economic principles.
MEBDI engages in various activities toward fulfilling its mission. Among these, MEBDI organizes conferences and events that bring together researchers from economics and other social sciences, data scientists, and data producers (e.g., government statistical agencies) to help create new synergies.
MEBDI also undertakes research initiatives that produces and disseminates high-quality, detailed, microeconomic statistics relevant for researchers, policy makers, and the general public. The institute has a special focus on economic inequality and economic uncertainty and many of its data efforts are geared towards improving empirical measurement in these areas. These efforts are typically undertaken in collaboration with outside researchers and agencies.
MEBDI’s mission—of empirical research guided by economic theory—continues the long tradition of research at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Economics, exemplified by its distinguished alums and faculty, who went on to win the Nobel Prize, such as Tom Sargent, Ed Prescott, Chris Sims, Dan McFadden, and Lars Hansen.