Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Cornell's Irving M. Ives Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics, has won the 2011 Jacob Mincer Career Achievement Award for lifetime contributions to the field of economics from the Society of Labor Economists.

He is "one of the great researchers from our field. ... He has exemplified the highest standards of both academic and policy-related research in labor economics," the Society of Labor Economists said.

The award was presented to Ehrenberg in Vancouver April 29.

Ehrenberg's work spans areas including public-sector employment, unemployment insurance, pensions, retirement, tournaments, comparable worth and higher education. His work on the economics of religion led to the founding of a new subfield in economics.

A nationally known labor economist, Ehrenberg is a Stephen H. Weiss Presidential fellow and also director of the Cornell University Higher Education Research Institute.

A member of the Cornell faculty for more than three decades, he has authored or co-authored more than 145 papers and authored or edited more than 26 books.