Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnson is an Assistant Professor at Duke University, holding dual appointments in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Department of Economics within Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on labor economics, public policy, and regulatory effectiveness, particularly examining how workplace safety regulations, labor market policies, and noncompete agreements impact workers and firms. Johnson received his Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University (2016) and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley (2007).

Research & Grants: Key projects include analyzing OSHA enforcement strategies, evaluating the impact of noncompete agreements, and studying labor market dynamics. Notable grants include funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (2023–2025) and the Russell Sage Foundation (2023–2025). He has published in top journals like the Review of Economics and Statistics and Science.

Teaching: Recent courses include Microeconomic Policy Tools (PUBPOL 303D), Advanced Topics in Public Policy (PUBPOL 590), and Microeconomics and Public Policy-Making (PUBPOL 810).

Labs & Collaborations: Co-leads the Triangle Economists in Applied Microeconomics (TEAM) working group, fostering collaborations among junior faculty in applied economics research.