Carol Graham

Carol Graham is a distinguished economist and researcher who serves as the Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, College Park Professor at the University of Maryland, and Senior Scientist at Gallup. Born in Lima, Peru, she earned her academic credentials from prestigious institutions: an A.B. from Princeton University, M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and Ph.D. from Oxford University. Her groundbreaking research focuses on the economics of happiness, poverty, inequality, and subjective well-being, particularly examining the paradoxical relationships between wealth and happiness across different societies. Her influential works include "The Power of Hope: How Wellbeing Science Can Save us from Despair" (2023), "Happiness for All? Unequal Lives and Hopes in Pursuit of the American Dream" (2017), and "Happiness Around the World: The Paradox of Happy Peasants and Miserable Millionaires" (2009). Throughout her career, she has held significant positions including Vice President at Brookings, Special Advisor to the IMF's Deputy Managing Director, and consultant for numerous international organizations. Her contributions to the field have earned her several prestigious recognitions, including the Pioneer Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2017) and a Lifetime Distinguished Scholar award from the International Society of Quality of Life Studies (2018). Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, she continues to shape global understanding of well-being metrics and their implications for public policy.