Laurent BACH

Laurent BACH is an Associate Professor of Finance at ESSEC Business School, France, and concurrently serves as Policy Evaluation Program Director at the Institute of Public Policies since 2019. He holds a PhD in Economics from the Paris School of Economics (2009) and an MSc in Management from HEC Paris (2004). His academic career includes roles as Assistant Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics (2010–2017) and ESSEC (2017–present).

His research focuses on financial economics, tax policy, corporate governance, and public policy evaluation, with notable contributions to topics such as dividend taxation, household wealth dynamics, gender disparities in real estate returns, and pandemic-related policy impacts. He has also examined the efficacy of small business financial aid programs and the effects of tax reforms on corporate behavior.

Key publications include a 2023 American Economic Review comment on dividend taxes, a 2021 study on electoral risks during the pandemic in Journal of Health Economics, and a 2020 American Economic Review analysis of wealth inequality. His work frequently intersects with policy evaluation, such as assessing France’s super-profits tax (2024) and carbon targeting policies.

• Distinctions: MISTRA Global Grant (2016), Vinnova Grant (2014), Thiers Foundation Fellowship (2009).
• Reviewer: For journals including American Economic Journal, Journal of Finance, and Review of Financial Studies.
• Media Engagement: Commented on fiscal policies in La Tribune (2024–2025), highlighting tax reform inefficiencies and public spending transparency.

His interdisciplinary approach bridges empirical finance, public policy, and gender economics, with ongoing projects addressing wealth taxation, climate policy evaluation, and corporate governance.