At St. Olaf College since 1987
Ph.D. (1987) and A.M. (1982), Economics, Duke University
B.A. with Honors in Economics (1981), University of Maryland – College Park

Anthony Becker has taught a wide variety of courses in statistics, economics, and women’s studies since coming to St. Olaf in 1987. On July 1, 2024, he was appointed as the Minnesota State Economist. In this role, he directs the Economic Analysis division at Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB). The division produces twice-yearly revenue forecasts of state revenues, quarterly economic updates, and monthly revenue updates. It also provides non-partisan advice and briefings to the Governor's Office and to the State Legislature.

His past teaching areas include econometrics, statistical analysis, microeconomic theory, game theory, international agricultural trade, and the Science Conversation (spring 2020). He has published articles in defense economics, environmental policy, and agricultural economics. His interdisciplnary publications include a chapter in Perry Mason and Philosophy (with colleague Charles Taliaferro, 2019) and "Money: Toward a Faithful Understanding of What It Is and the Role It Plays in the Twenty-First Century" in Word and World (Rebecca Judge & Anthony Becker, 2022).

Prof. Becker received his B.A. in economics with honors from the University of Maryland – College Park (1981) and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Duke University (1982 and 1987). He chaired the Economics Department from 2012 to 2020 and was appointed the Husby-Johnson Chair of Business and Economics for 2016-2019.

In addition to his St. Olaf duties, Prof. Becker has also worked as a consultant to the legal profession in economic damages and antitrust injury and has assisted colleagues at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in Santa Fe, Argentina, as they developed a master’s of applied economics degree program. He is also a certificated private pilot, and a good enough auto mechanic to keep the family’s 1980’s sports car running.