About
David Sappington is an Eminent Scholar and Professor of Economics at the University of Florida, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Department of Economics. He directs the Robert F. Lanzillotti Public Policy Research Center and previously served as Chief Economist of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. His research focuses on regulatory design in industries like electricity and telecommunications, emphasizing incentive structures and information asymmetry. Sappington holds editorial roles at multiple journals, including the Rand Journal of Economics and Journal of Regulatory Economics.
Education: PhD in Economics (Princeton University, 1980), MA (Princeton, 1978), BA (Haverford College, 1976).
Research interests include regulation of monopolies, incentive mechanisms under limited information, antitrust policy in regulated sectors, and the evolution of contracting practices. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world applications in energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors.
Key contributions address optimal regulatory policies for electricity markets, price cap mechanisms, and the impact of vertical integration on industry performance. Sappington's recent work explores distributed energy resources, demand response policies, and the intersection of privacy regimes with online market efficiency.
Grants and advising activities are not specified in the provided text, but his role as a former FCC Chief Economist highlights engagement with federal regulatory frameworks. The Lanzillotti Center he leads focuses on applied public policy research.
