Ralf R. Meisenzahl

 Senior Economist & Economic Advisor, Head of Insurance Initiative
 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
​[my official webpage] [my CV​]
Ralf focuses on empirical research in financial economics, macroeconomics, and economic history. He serves as co-editor in chief (with Karen Clay, Carnegie Mellon University) of Explorations in Economic History. His work has been published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economic Studies, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies. Ralf also teaches at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (iMBA). He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and his Diplom in Economics from the University of Mannheim.

Recent Research​

Changes in Ownership and Performance of Deteriorating Syndicated Loans​

We show that banks and CLOs sell downgraded loans to mutual funds and hedge funds. The loan share reallocation increases syndicate concentration and lenders' incentives to renegotiate.  [link]

The Research University, Invention, and Industry: Evidence from Germany 1760-1900​

We show that the emergence of the research university in Germany around 1800 increased inventive activity and fostered industrialization in places close to research universities. [link]​

​The contents of this website are my own and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views or policies of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Board of Governors, or staff of the Federal Reserve System.
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