Lee Kenneth Benham

Background

Benham, Lee Kenneth was born on September 3, 1940 in Searcy, Arkansas, United States. Son of Davis Eugene and Marie (Doran) Benham.

Education

Bachelor of Arts Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 1962. Doctor of Philosophy Stanford University, 1970.

Career

Instructor, Assistant Professor, School Business, University Chicago, 1967-1974. Professor of Economics, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America, since 1974.

Views

My early work examined labour markets and the economics of health. Investigation of the impact of information and advertising on market organisation and prices evolved out of my interests in the regulation of professional labour markets. Licensed professionals have generally restricted advertising by their members.

I first studied the consequences of advertising bans in No.

2 above. A companion paper (No. 5, with Alexandra Benham) provided additional evidence that such bans are associated with significantly higher prices and an altered industry structure. The political economy of self-regulating occupations has been the subject of several further studies.

Currently, my interest in the role of information continues, and I am also examining the impact of political climate on the costs of contracting and the organisation of firms.

Connections

Married Alexandra Louise Houston, June 17, 1962. 1 child, Catherine Marie.

Father:

Davis Eugene Benham

Mother:

Marie (Doran) Benham

Spouse:

Alexandra Louise Houston

child:

Catherine Marie Benham