Member National Academy of Sciences Member American Academy of Arts & Sciences Rachel E. Kranton (born c. 1962) is an American economist and James B. Duke Professor of Economics at Duke University.
She also focuses on the cost and benefits of networks and informal exchange, which is the economic activity through social relationship.
In a long-term collaboration, Kranton and George Akerlof of University of California, Berkeley introduce social identity into formal economic analysis.
[12] In a review for Science, Robert Sugden writes: "Nonspecialist readers will find a lot of insightful and well-informed analysis of how issues of identity affect real economic problems.
[15] Rachel Kranton's research interests is on the effect of institutions and the social setting on economic outcomes.
[17] Rachel Kranton was recognized in an article by Gregory Phillips (a communications manager at the Fuqua School of Business & staff member at Duke University)'Desire To Be In A Group Leads To Harsher Judgement Of Others,' which recognized Kranton for her study of "groupiness."