Benjamin Ho uses economic tools such as game theory and experimental economics to analyze social institutions that have traditionally been the purview of sociologists and psychologists. His research includes a theoretical analysis of how apologies are used to maintain relationships, as well as a statistical examination of the role apologies play in medical malpractice lawsuits. Another project uses game theory and experiments to investigate how what we consume is used to convey meaning and identity. Ho was the lead economist for energy and transportation at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. He received his PhD in economics from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and holds master's degrees in education and political science from Stanford and electrical engineering/computer science from MIT, as well as bachelor's degrees from MIT. He has also worked as a research analyst for Morgan Stanley and helped found a short-lived e-commerce startup.

My research is about the application of economics tools such as game theory and information theory toward social interactions that have traditionally been the purview of sociologists or psychologists. My current research includes an economic theory of apologies and an empirical investigation on the organization of educational systems. I am also pursuing ideas about legitimacy, creativity and identity.

I have more hobbies than reasonble, but the main ones currently are photography, musical theatre, rollerhockey, ranting and raving and column writing, sailing, poker, fancy food, etc.

I grew up in Morristown, NJ, but call New York where I was born, my hometown. I moved to Ithaca from Baltimore where my fiancee is attending Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.