Gautam Rao

Gautam Rao is an Associate Professor at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and Department of Economics, specializing in Development Economics and Behavioral Economics. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley and focuses on applying psychological insights to economic problems in developing countries.

• Research Areas: Mental health economics, sleep interventions, policy evaluation, social preferences
• Labs: Co-directs the Behavioral Development Lab in India
• Affiliations: Faculty Research Fellow at NBER, affiliate of J-PAL
• Editorial Role: Former Associate Editor at Journal of Political Economy (2018-2020)

His recent publications explore topics like sleep improvement impacts on labor productivity, mental health in low-income populations, and behavioral mechanisms in public policy. Gautam Rao has received significant recognition through fellowships and peer-reviewed publications in top journals.

For advising, he expects regular updates and structured communication from students. He emphasizes evidence-based approaches in both research and teaching, including courses on psychology and economics.