Dr. Amy Glasmeier

Dr. Amy Glasmeier is a professor of Economic Geography and Regional Planning. She runs LRISA, the Lab on Regional Innovation and Spatial Analysis, in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, MIT. Glasmeier is a founding editor of the Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society. Her research focuses economic opportunities for communities and individuals. She investigates the role of geographic access and the effect of locational accident, on human development. She is writing a book “Good Bye American Dream” that traces the ideology of opportunity that undergirds America’s relationship to the poor. Through analysis of census data, popular media, and personal narratives Professor Glasmeier is exploring the contradictions in this most sacred of constructs by demonstrating the ephemeral nature of economic opportunity encumbered by locational accident, institutional inertia and the unintended consequences of public policy. The work builds off of her long running Living Wage Calculator, which analyzes the minimum level of income required for individuals and families to pay for basic living expenses. Professor Glasmeier holds a professional Masters and PhD in Regional from UC Berkeley. A second field of expertise, Glasmeier investigates and teaches about the role of energy in human development. She is a co-PI on a four year NSF-CRISP project studying resilience and the case of catastrophic failures.