New Tax Code

This year saw sweeping changes to the current tax-code. The University of Pennsylvania has experts able to comment on various aspects of the tax-code and the impact on the economy.

Jennifer Blouin

Professor of Accounting.
The Wharton School.
University of Pennsylvania.

Professor Jennifer Blouin’s research centers on the role of taxation in firm decision making. She studies taxation in many contexts, including capital structure, asset pricing, payout policy and multinational firm behavior. Professor Blouin’s research has been published in top-tier academic journals including Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Research, National Tax Journal and the Journal of the American Taxation Association. 



Kimberly Burham

Managing Director of Legislation and Special Projects, Penn Wharton Budget Model.
The Wharton School.
University of Pennsylvania.

Kimberly Burham focuses on the development, presentation, and communications strategy of the Penn Wharton Budget Model as well as tracking policy options and writing whitepapers. Her prior research includes work on pensions, retirement savings, retirement preparation, investor demographics and behavior, Social Security claiming behavior, and expenditures by the aged.



Ioana E. Marinescu

Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania and ​​​​​​​Faculty Research Fellow, National Bureau of Economic Research.
School of Social Policy & Practice.
University of Pennsylvania.

Ioana Marinescu is an economist who studies the labor market to craft policies that can enhance employment, productivit, and economic security. To make an informed policy decision, it is crucial to determine the costs and benefits of policies. Dr. Marinescu’s research expertise includes online job search, workforce development, unemployment insurance, the universal basic income and employment contracts.



Jessica Bautista | 215-573-8408 | bajess@sp2.upenn.edu


Kent Smetters

Boettner Professor in the Department of Business Economics and Public Policy and Faculty Director, Penn Wharton Budget Model
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Professor Smetters brings a wealth of policy expertise to The Penn Wharton Budget Model, with a strong record of research in public economics as well as work experience in the public sector.  Starting in May 2001, he spent 17 months serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He subsequently became a member of the bipartisan Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Dynamic Scoring, convened by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the U.S. Congress.