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About Cathleen
Cathleen Johnson is the Kendrick Chair of Economics, Director of the Center for an Ethical Economy, Associate Professor of Economics, and Assistant Chair in the Department of Economics at West Virginia University’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech in 2000, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship with Nobel Laureate Vernon Smith in 2001. Johnson's research specializations include network theory and running large complex field experiments, complemented by a keen interest in the teaching of economics and numeracy. She has published in numerous leading economics journals, including Games and Economic Behavior, Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Canadian Journal of Economics, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, National Tax Journal, Economics Letters, Public Finance Review, and Review of Economic Design. Key publications feature “Eliciting risk preferences: When is simple better?” with C. Dave, C.C. Eckel, and C. Rojas (Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 2010), “Spatial social networks” with R.P. Gilles (Review of Economic Design, 2000), “Saving decisions of the working poor: Short- and long-term horizons” with C. Eckel and C. Montmarquette (Field Experiments in Economics, 2005), “Debt aversion and the demand for loans for postsecondary education” with C.C. Eckel, C. Montmarquette, and C. Rojas (Public Finance Review, 2007), and “Prince: An improved method for measuring incentivized preferences” (Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 2021). She co-authored the book Commercial Society: A Primer on Ethics and Economics (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).
Johnson holds significant leadership positions, including Chair of the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee at West Virginia University and a seat on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Council for Economic Education. As Director of the Center for an Ethical Economy within the Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy, she oversees the Kendrick Educators Program, offering scholarships and summer workshops to West Virginia teachers pursuing a Master of Science in Economics degree. This initiative forms part of a $40 million partnership to expand economics education statewide, aligning with West Virginia University’s land-grant mission. Her contributions enhance experimental economics methodologies and promote ethical economic education among educators and students.