David Bjerk

David Bjerk is the Russell S. Bock Professor of Public Economics and Taxation at the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance, Pepperdine University. His expertise spans crime and criminal justice, labor economics, and public policy, with a focus on racial/gender inequality and legal systems. He holds a B.A. from Carleton College and M.A./Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Research interests include wrongful conviction rates, plea bargaining dynamics, racial sentencing disparities, and the economic foundations of redistribution. Notable work analyzes DNA exoneration data to assess racial biases in convictions and evaluates policy impacts like the Fair Sentencing Act. His studies also explore labor market discrimination, drug courier risk compensation, and youth criminal behavior correlates.

Publications span journals like Journal of Law and Economics, Economic Journal, and Journal of Public Economics, consistently addressing intersections of economic theory and legal/practical policies. His work informs debates on policing funding, sentencing reform, and systemic inequality.