Jason M. Ward

Jason M. Ward is Codirector of the RAND Center on Housing and Homelessness, an economist at the RAND Corporation, and a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. He is based in Los Angeles, California, and conducts applied microeconomic research on housing, labor, education, and health policy. His work directly informs public policy debates at local and national levels.

Ward's research focuses on critical social issues, including regional disparities in multifamily housing production costs, federal rental assistance effectiveness, unsheltered homelessness in Los Angeles, and the intersection of housing and water supply. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NPR's Marketplace, and CNN Business. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on housing affordability, homelessness interventions, and labor market impacts of public policy. He frequently analyzes policy instruments such as Measure ULA, Project Labor Agreements, and adaptive reuse incentives. His research spans urban economics, public finance, and social policy, often with a California or Los Angeles focus.

• Scientific Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the text.

Ward advises on and contributes to major policy initiatives such as Homekey and military compensation reviews. He has collaborated extensively with other RAND researchers and has led longitudinal data collection efforts. He is actively involved in public engagement through media and policy briefings. He is associated with research teams at the RAND Center on Housing and Homelessness, contributing to both empirical analysis and policy translation.