Ilan Strauss

Ilan Strauss is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) and Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg. He directs the AI Disclosures Project at the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and previously led digital economy research at IIPP under Omidyar Network funding.

Education:

• PhD in Economics, New School for Social Research (New York)
• MSc in Economics, SOAS University of London (First Class)

Research Focus: Dr. Strauss specializes in digital market dynamics with emphasis on Big Tech's platform economics, AI governance, and algorithmic competition. His work integrates Bayesian modeling with firm-level data analysis to investigate innovation patterns, investment stagnation, and new theories of market harm. Current projects examine attention allocation mechanisms, AI disclosure frameworks, and industrial policy implications.

Publication Trends: Recent articles (2021-2025) reveal concentrated expertise in algorithmic market power, AI governance gaps, and digital platform regulation. Methodologically, they combine economic theory with empirical case studies and Bayesian statistical approaches, frequently addressing antitrust implications of Big Tech's data practices.

Grants & Leadership:

• Economic Security Project grant recipient for research on Big Tech's AI capability acquisitions
• Program Director of SSRC's AI Disclosures Project
• Former head of IIPP's digital economy research team

Consulting & Service: Extensive consultancy for UNCTAD, African Development Bank, ILO, UNIDO, and SADC on industrial policy and investment frameworks. Previously taught macroeconomics at New York University and Rice University.