Jason Fletcher

Jason Fletcher is a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with appointments in Applied Economics and Population Health Sciences. He specializes in health economics, social genomics, and child/adolescent health policy. His research focuses on genetic and environmental interactions influencing health outcomes, long-term consequences of mental illness, and historical health policies.

Education:

• B.S., Economics & Public Administration, University of Tennessee-Knoxville (Summa Cum Laude)
• M.S. and Ph.D., Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests: Dr. Fletcher examines social network effects on youth health, combines genetics with social science, and studies in utero/early life exposures. Notable work includes The Genome Factor (with Dalton Conley), exploring social genomics' societal implications.

Awards & Affiliations:

• 2023 Guggenheim Fellow
• National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Research Associate
• Institute for Research on Poverty Affiliate
• Human Capital & Economic Opportunity Group (UChicago)

Key Contributions: His work bridges genetics and public policy, including analyses of historical health interventions like hookworm eradication and lead exposure impacts. He co-organizes the Integrating Genetics and Social Science Conference.