Jean Olson Lanjouw

Jean Olson "Jenny" Lanjouw (April 15, 1962 – November 1, 2005) was an American economist, economics professor at Yale University and associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. She undertook empirical work on poverty and economic development, developed statistical tools to project poverty and inequalities at the local level, and a policy system to provide access to drugs for developing countries without violating drug manufacturers' patents.

Biography Jean Olson Lanjouw was born on April 15, 1962, in Seattle, Washington, to Joann and Bruce Olson. She graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in mathematics and economics from Miami University. Lanjouw garnered an interest in the economics of developing countries while she was attending a year-long master's program at Delhi School of Economics in the mid-1980s. Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, In August 2005, she was diagnosed with renal cell cancer, and died on November 1, 2005, at her home in Washington, D.C. Services to commemorate her life were held in Washington, D.C.

Personality and personal life Known as "Jenny" by friends and colleagues, Lanjouw was a popular individual from combining "charm, humor, and a keen sense of intellectual curiosity in her interactions." She was enthusiastic, extremely smart, detailed in her work, friendly with students who still remember her outstanding classes in Development Economics in her Yale years and her patience and encouragement, and treated all equally regardless of seniority. Lanjouw was married to World Bank economist Peter Lanjouw and they had two children.

Legacy After her death, a memorial fund called the Jean O. Lanjouw Memorial Fund was established in her honor by the UC Berkeley Foundation. Her husband explained that the fund was established to ensure her work could be continued by future generations via sponsorship.

Selected publications