Elizabeth Brainerd’s research focuses on labor and health economics, with particular interest in understanding the social and health consequences of the transition to capitalism in formerly socialist countries. Her work has examined changes in the gender wage gap and wage inequality in eastern Europe, the impact of World War II on marriage and fertility of Russian women, and the impact of economic transition on mortality in post-socialist countries. Current research projects include an examination of the impact of pro-natalist policies on fertility and marriage in the Baltics, and a study of the effects of Mikhail Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign in the Russian republic as well as in Estonia.
Brainerd received her B.A. in economics and Russian from Bowdoin College and her Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. She holds the Susan and Barton Winokur Chair in Economics and Women’s and Gender Studies at Brandeis University. Prior to her appointment at Brandeis, Elizabeth Brainerd was a Professor in the Economics Department at Williams College.