Professor Gillian Brunet’s research interests lie at the intersection of economic history, macroeconomics, and public economics. Her work uses microeconomic data to study macroeconomic questions, often in historical contexts. She is particularly interested in understanding the U.S. economy during and after World War II.

Brunet did not initially set out to be an economist. She earned a BA in government and mathematics from Smith College and then worked in fiscal policy for several years before deciding to pursue graduate training in economics. She holds a PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.