UIC names Brookings economist to lead center

A former Brookings Institution economist has been tapped to direct a public policy research center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Howard Wial conducted public policy research on urban and regional economies as a Brookings fellow.

He heads the Center for Urban Economic Development, part of the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. The center is known for its research on issues affecting low-wage workers. Those issues include the day-labor market, wage theft, and compensation and labor practices in big-box stores.

Before joining the Brookings Institution in 2005, Wial did public policy research for organizations and agencies including the U.S. General Accounting Office, the Office of Technology Assessment and the U.S. Department of Labor.

His research topics included employment, pensions, immigration and economic development.