John Pencavel : An Oral History

John H. Pencavel was the Pauline K. Levin, Robert L. Levin and Pauline C. Levin, Abraham Levin Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University. He joined the Stanford faculty in 1969 and served as chair of the Department of Economics from 1997 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2004.
Professor Pencavel is an internationally recognized economist known for his research on labor markets. During the early part of his career, he focused on differences among workers in the hours they work and especially on the effects of welfare programs on their hours. He has had an enduring interest in workers’ organizations such as trade unions and cooperatives. He has advised the World Bank and governments on the regulation of collective bargaining and labor unions. This interest in workers and workers’ associations arose from his childhood experiences living on a working class housing estate in London.
Professor Pencavel received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from University College, University of London (UCL). He is now a Fellow of UCL. He received a PhD degree from Princeton University.
He has been president of the Society of Labor Economists, president of the Western Economic Association, a distinguished fellow of the American Economic Association, and a fellow of the Econometric Society. He has served as an expert witness in a number of employment discrimination cases.
Professor Pencavel enjoys hiking, reading (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry), and following soccer. He is married to Louise Smith, a video-maker, and he is the father of three children.

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Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program Interviews