Robert Stewart Smith
People/Faculty
Professor
Economics
Contact
133 Statler Dr
269 Ives Hall Faculty Wing
Ithaca, NY 14853
United States
Overview
Robert S. Smith is a Professor in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University Labor Economics Department. He served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School for 28 years. After receiving his Ph.D. in Economics at Stanford University in 1971, he taught at the University of Connecticut and worked as an economist in the U.S. Department of Labor before coming to Cornell in 1974. He has authored numerous articles in the field of labor economics and is co-author of Modern Labor Economics: Theory and Public Policy, the leading textbook in its field for 3 decades (and now in its 12th edition).
Teaching Statement
Professor Smith’s teaching has included the basic required labor economics courses for undergraduates and for students in the School’s professional master’s program. In 1999 he received the School’s General Mills Foundation Award for Innovation in Instruction; in 2006 he received the School's Robert N. Stern Mentoring Award, and in 2010 he received Cornell University's Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellows award for teaching.
Research Statement
Professor Smith's research interests have centered on analyses of various labor market policies, especially those in the safety and health area.
Service Statement
In addition to serving as Associate Dean for 28 years, Professor Smith has served in the capacity of Interim Dean four times.
Areas of Expertise
Labor Economics
Occupational Safety and Health
Policy and analysis
Workers' Compensation
Publications
Research Reports
- Ronald Seeber, Timothy Schmidle, & Robert Smith. (2001). An Evaluation of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Pilot Program for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
- Robert Smith. (1976). The Occupational Safety and Health Act: Its Goals and Its Achievements.
Book Reviews
- Robert Smith. (2001). Review of 'A Prelude to the Welfare State: The Origin of Workers’ Compensation' by Price V. Fishback and Shawn Everett Kantor.
- Robert Smith. (1998). Review of 'Curing The Dutch Disease: An International Perspective on Disability Policy Reform' edited by Leo J. M. Aarts, Richard V. Burkhauser, and Philip R. DeJong.
- Robert Smith. (1995). Review of 'Labor Economics and Industrial Relations' by Clark Kerr and Paul Staudohar.
- Robert Smith. (1992). Review of 'The Economic Consequences of Immigration' by Julian Simon.
- Robert Smith. (1990). Review of 'Three Worlds of Labor Economics' by Garth Mangum and Peter Philips.
- Robert Smith. (1988). Review of 'The Tragedy of Black Lung' by Peter S Barth.
- Robert Smith. (1988). Review of 'Unemployment: An Economic Analysis' by K G Knight.
- Robert Smith. (1984). Review of 'The Scientific Basis of Health and Safety Regulation' by Robert Crandall and Lester Lave.
- Robert Smith. (1980). Review of 'Regulating Safety: An Economic and Political Analysis of Occupational Safety and Health Policy' by John Mendeloff.
- Robert Smith. (1977). Review of 'Work and Welfare in Britain and the USA' by Bruno Stein.
- Robert Smith. (1977). Review of 'Crisis in the Workplace' by Nicholas Ashford.
- Robert Smith. (1973). Review of 'The Political Economy of Urban Poverty' by Charles Sackrey.
Journal Articles
- George Boyer, & Robert Smith. (2001). The Development of the Neoclassical Tradition in Labor Economics. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 54(2), 199-223.
- Olivia S Mitchell, & Robert Smith. (1994). Pension Funding in the Public Sector. Review of Economics and Statistics, 76(2), 278-290.
- Robert Smith, & John Ruser. (1991). Reestimating OSHA's Effects: Have the Data Changed?. Journal of Human Resources, 24(2), 212-235.
- Robert Smith, & James Chelius. (1990). Profit Sharing and Employment Stability. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 43, 256S-273S.
- Robert Smith, & John Ruser. (1988). The Effect of OSHA Records Check Inspections on Reported Occupational Injuries in Manufacturing Establishments. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 1(4), 415-435.
- Robert Smith. (1988). Comparable Worth: Limited Coverage and the Exacerbation of Inequality. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 41(2), 227-239.
- Robert Smith, & James Chelius. (1987). Firm Size and Regulatory Compliance Costs: The Case of Workers' Compensation. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 6, 193-206.
- Robert Smith, & Ronald Ehrenberg. (1987). Comparable Worth Wage Adjustments and Female Employment in the State and Local Sector. Journal of Labor Economics, 5(1), 43-62.
- Robert Smith. (1986). Greasing the Squeaky Wheel: The Relative Productivity of OSHA Complaint Inspections. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 40(1), 35-47.
- Robert Smith. (1981). Compensating Differentials for Pensions and Underfunding in the Public Sector. Review of Economics and Statistics, 63(3), 463-468.
- Robert Smith, & Ronald Ehrenberg. (1979). Who Pays for Pensions in the State and Local Sector: Workers or Employers?. Industrial Relations Research Association Proceedings, 57-63.
- Robert Smith. (1979). Compensating Wage Differentials and Public Policy: A Review. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 32(3), 339-352.
- Orley Ashenfelter, & Robert Smith. (1979). Compliance with the Minimum Wage Law. Journal of Political Economy, 87(2), 333-350.
- Robert Smith. (1979). The Impact of OSHA Inspections on Manufacturing Injury Rates. Journal of Human Resources, 14(2), 145-170.
- Robert Smith. (1976). Issues in Safety and Health Regulation. Challenge, 36-37.
- Robert Smith, & Morris Goldstein. (1976). The Estimated Impact of the Anti-Discrimination Program Aimed at Federal Contractors. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 523-543.
- Robert Smith, & Morris Goldstein. (1975). Land Reclamation Requirements and Their Estimated Effects on the Coal Industry. Journal of Economics and Environmental Management.
- Robert Smith. (1974). The Feasibility of an Injury Tax. Law and Contemporary Problems, 730-744.
- Robert Smith. (1973). Labor Market Conditions and Employer Hiring Standards: Comment. Industrial Relations, 248-249.
- Robert Smith. (1972). Intertemporal Changes in Work Injury Rates. Industrial Relations Research Association Proceedings, 167-174.
Book Chapters
- Robert Smith, & George Boyer. (1998). Labor Economics. In Industrial Relations at the Dawn of the New Millennium. (pp. 97-114). New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
- George Boyer, & Robert Smith. (1998). Labor Economics. In Industrial Relations at the Dawn of the New Millennium. New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
- Robert Smith. (1992). Have OSHA and Workers' Compensation Made the Workplace Safer?. In Research Frontiers in Industrial Relations and Human Resources. (pp. 557-587). Industrial Relations Research Association.
- Robert Smith. (1986). The Economics of Job Displacement. In Disability and the Labor Market: Economic Problems, Policies and Programs. (pp. 171-195). ILR Press.
- Robert Smith, & Ronald Ehrenberg. (1983). Estimating Wage-Fringe Trade-Offs: Some Data Problems. In The Measurement of Labor Cost. University of Chicago Press for the National Bureau of Economic Research, Studies in Income and Wealth.
- Robert Smith. (1983). Salaries and Pension Funding: Are Public Safety Officers Given Preference Over Taxpayers?. In The Economics of Municipal Labor Markets. Institute of Industrial Relations, UCLA.
- Robert Smith, & James Chelius. (1983). The Responsiveness of Injury Rates to Experience-Rating of Workers' Compensation Insurance. In Safety and the Workforce: Incentives and Disincentives in Workers' Compensation. ILR Press.
- Robert Smith. (1981). Protecting Workers' Health and Safety. In Instead of Regulation. Lexington Books.
- Robert Smith, & Ronald Ehrenberg. (1980). A Framework for Evaluating State and Local Government Pension Reform. In Public Sector Labor Markets (Papers on Public Economics Series Vol. 4). Urban Institute.
- Robert Smith, & Walter Galenson. (1978). The United States. In Labor in the Twentieth Century. Academic Press.
- Robert Smith, & Morris Goldstein. (1977). The Predicted Impact of the Black Lung Benefits Program on the Coal Industry. In Evaluating the Labor-Market Effects of Social Programs. (pp. 133-182). Industrial Relations Section, Princeton University.
- Robert Smith. (1973). An Analysis of Work Injuries in Manufacturing Industry. In Supplemental Studies for the National Commission on State Workmen's Compensation Laws.
Conference Proceedings
- Robert Smith, & Olivia Mitchell. (1992). Public Sector Pensions: Benefits, Funding, and Unionization.
- Robert Smith. (1990). Mostly on Monday: Is Workers' Compensation Covering Off-the-Job Injuries?.
- Robert Smith, & Ronald Ehrenberg. (1987). Comparable Worth in the Public Sector.
- Robert Smith, & Ronald Ehrenberg. (1984). Economic and Statistical Analysis of Discrimination in Hiring.
- Robert Smith, & Alan Dillingham. (1984). Union Effects on the Valuation of Fatal Risk.
Books
- Robert Flanagan, Robert Smith, Lawrence Kahn, & Ronald Ehrenberg. (1988). Economics of the Employment Relationship. Scott Foresman.
- James Chelius, & Robert Smith. (1987). Small Business and the Financing of Workers' Compensation: Issues, Evidence, and Options. NFIB Foundation.
- Robert J Flanagan, Ronald Ehrenberg, & Robert Smith. (1984). Labor Economics and Labor Relations. Scott, Foresman.
Extension Bulletin
- Robert Smith, & Loren William Tauer. (1983). Buying a Farm on Contract.
- Robert Smith, Loren William Tauer, & Stuart F Smith. (1981). Farmers and Retirement.
Technical Report
- Robert Hutchens, Ronald Ehrenberg, & Robert Smith. (1978). The Distribution of Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Costs.
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