Ben Golan · UT Austin

Economics × Mathematics · The University of Texas at Austin

Ben Golan

Undergraduate economist working toward graduate study in microeconomic theory, mechanism design, and classical game theory.

LinkedIn ↗

ben.golan456@gmail.com

Portrait of Ben Golan

Fig. 1 — Golan, B.Austin, Texas

3.894
Cumulative GPA
May 2027
Expected graduation
B.S. + B.S.A.
Economics · Mathematics
Ph.D.-level
Current coursework
About

I'm pursuing a B.S. in Economics and a B.S.A. in Mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin, graduating in May 2027. My coursework runs from a proof-based mathematics curriculum up through Ph.D.-level microeconomics and mathematical economics, and after graduation I plan to continue into graduate study in Economics.

My research interests sit in microeconomic theory, with a particular focus on mechanism design and classical game theory.

Outside the classroom I serve as a Junior Editor and podcast scriptwriter and co-host at The Developing Economist, UT Austin's undergraduate economics journal, where I interview faculty and help translate current research for a wider audience. I also compete: in datathons, in trading competitions, and, whenever the occasion allows, at a card table.

LinkedIn ↗ Email ↗

UT Austin · 2025 – 2027

Coursework.

My coursework at The University of Texas at Austin, ordered from most to least advanced. Where a course is complete, the readout beside it records the grade and how many A-range marks the class awarded that semester.

01
ECO 386DPh.D.

Microeconomics II

Prof. Maxwell Stinchcombe

Doctoral microeconomics centered on strategic interaction in models of exchange and production. Imperfect competition, asymmetric information, and market incompleteness through non-cooperative game theory, information economics, and mechanisms of price formation such as bargaining.

In progress
02
ECO 385DPh.D.

Mathematics for Economists

Prof. Maxwell Stinchcombe

First-year doctoral mathematics for economic theory and econometrics. Real analysis of sequences, completeness, compactness, and continuity in ℝℓ. Treatment of convex optimization utilizing parametrized optima and value functions, monotone comparative statics, Kuhn–Tucker theory, convexity, stochastic dynamic programming via the contraction mapping principle, and fixed point approaches to equilibrium.

In progress
03
ECO 420S

Mathematical Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

Prof. Maxwell Stinchcombe

A proof-oriented treatment of how prices and allocations are determined, in both neoclassical and game-theoretic frameworks: constrained optimization with Lagrangean and Kuhn–Tucker methods, comparative statics, supermodularity and Topkis, consumer and producer theory, expected utility theory and risk, repeated games, and general equilibrium with Edgeworth-box analysis.

A 10 of 137 As awarded
04
ECO 441K

Introduction to Econometrics

Prof. Stephen Donald

Theory and practice of regression analysis: ordinary least squares under the classical assumptions, finite-sample and asymptotic inference, heteroskedasticity, time-series and panel data methods, binary choice models, and instrumental variables with two stage least squares.

A 33 of 132 As awarded
05
M 427LHonors

Advanced Calculus for Applications II

Prof. Maggie Miller

Honors vector calculus: the calculus of vector-valued functions and functions of several variables, constrained extrema and Lagrange multipliers, multiple integrals and change of variables, line and surface integrals, and the integral theorems of Green, Stokes, and Gauss.

A− 70 of 98 A-range marks
06
ECO 369F

Financial Economics

Prof. Svetlana Boyarchenko

The foundations of financial economics. Time value of money, asset valuation, and risk management: optimization over time, DCF analysis, portfolio theory, futures markets, arbitrage-free pricing of assets and derivatives, options strategies, real options, and capital structure.

In progress
07
M 362K

Probability I

Prof. Irene Gamba

The mathematical theory of probability, from axioms to limit theorems: combinatorics, conditional probability and Bayes' theorem, discrete and continuous random variables and the standard distributions, jointly distributed random variables.

In progress
08
M 325K

Discrete Mathematics

Prof. Laur Villafuerte Altuzar

Construction of proofs: logic and quantifiers, set theory, direct and indirect argument, induction and recursion, elementary number theory, counting and combinatorics, and introductory graph theory.

In progress
09
M 427J

Differential Equations with Linear Algebra

Prof. Bill Wolesensky

Ordinary differential equations and linear algebra: first and second order ODEs, linear systems solved through eigenvalue methods, qualitative and stability analysis, and an introduction to partial differential equations by way of the heat equation.

A−* 68 of 118 A-range marks
10
M 340L

Matrices and Matrix Calculations

Prof. Bill Wolesensky

Applied linear algebra: matrix operations and systems of linear equations, vector-space concepts, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonality and projection, and symmetric matrices, oriented toward applications across the natural and social sciences.

A 34 of 108 As awarded
11
ECO 329

Economic Statistics

Prof. Thomas Wiseman

Probability and statistics for economics, implemented in R: probability models and random variables, sampling distributions, estimation and confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing, applied throughout to economic data.

A 88 of 476 As awarded

* A− earned under extenuating medical circumstances that semester.

Applied econometrics

Selected work.

Empirical research in energy economics — with further work currently in preparation.

Working paper · April 2026 ECO 441K · The University of Texas at Austin

The Effect of Renewable Energy Penetration on Price Volatility of Residential Electricity at the U.S. State Level

As renewable capacity scales across the American grid, does it destabilize the prices households pay? This study assembles an original dataset spanning all fifty states and the District of Columbia, joining EIA price and generation series with climate vulnerability, regional, income, and market-structure controls, estimating a multivariate cross-sectional model of residential electricity price volatility. Renewable penetration shows no statistically significant effect on volatility, while a state's net generation emerges as a significant stabilizer of consumer prices; the model clears a full battery of diagnostics, including Breusch–Pagan, Ramsey RESET, VIF, and normality tests. The findings imply that renewable expansion is compatible with stable residential prices provided total generation is preserved — an argument for a diversified energy portfolio, developed into explicit criteria for evaluating proposed generation projects.

Additional research in preparation

Editorial · Competitive · Recreational

Beyond the problem set.

Editorial work, competition, and one long-standing devotion to the card table.

Aug 2025 — Present

The Developing Economist

Junior Editor · Podcast Co-Host

UT Austin's undergraduate economics journal. I draft scripts and interview Economics faculty to make current research legible beyond the seminar room, and help survey new work from leading departments worldwide.

March 2026 · Second place

Texas Convergent Datathon

Optimal allocation · O(n log n)

With a team of four, allocated 125 promotions across 500 at-risk customers by expected lifetime value through a Topkis-style efficiency condition feeding a two-state discounted P/L ranking. Within 3% of top accuracy, at a fraction of the runtime of regression-based entries.

April 2026 · 22,000 teams

IMC Prosperity 4

Tied 1st worldwide · Manual trading

Global trading competition. Posted the optimal manual trading P/L (+305,000) across the opening rounds by solving complete-information one-shot auctions and a constrained allocation under a log-normal model of competitor behavior.

Current as of 2026

C.V.

Ben Golan
Austin, Texas ben.golan456@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/ben-golan-b769ab384

Education & Academic Honors

The University of Texas at Austin
B.S. Economics · B.S.A. Mathematics — GPA 3.894
Aug 2025 — May 2027 (exp.)
  • Completed college credit: Econometrics; Differential Equations and Linear Algebra; Mathematical Intermediate Microeconomic Theory; Honors Multivariate (Vector) Calculus; Intermediate Economic Statistics and R Programming; Linear Algebra; Java Programming; Introductory Biology; English Literature Analysis.
  • Fall 2026 coursework: Discrete Mathematics; Calculus-Based Probability Theory; Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory; Ph.D. Mathematics for Economists; Ph.D. Microeconomics.

Work Experience

The Developing Economist
Junior Editor · Podcast Scriptwriter & Co-Host
Aug 2025 — Present
  • Draft scripts and conduct interviews of UT Austin Economics professors to communicate current economic issues in accessible terms.
  • Assist in the collection and analysis of current economic papers and research from top global universities.

Competitions & Performance Awards

Texas Convergent Datathon — Second Place
Team of four · Optimal promotion allocation by expected customer lifetime value
March 2026
  • Devised a novel Topkis-style efficient-allocation solution: a refined two-state discounted P/L model determining optimal promotion allocation of 125 promotions across 500 at-risk customers via a ranking system.
  • Team solutions ranked within 3% of top accuracy across all items; the allocation ran in O(n log n), significantly outperforming regression-based competitor solutions in speed.
IMC Prosperity 4 Trading Competition
Team of four · Combined algorithmic and manual trading
April 2026
  • Achieved a manual-trading P/L of +305,000 through Rounds I and II — the optimal total across both tasks — by solving complete-information one-shot auctions and a constrained allocation of three investments under a log-normal approximation of competitor behavior.
  • Currently tied for 1st globally in manual trading in a field of 22,000 entrants.