Nina Roussille

Nina Roussille is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), having joined the department in July 2023 after completing a postdoc at the London School of Economics (LSE). She received her PhD in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Roussille holds multiple significant roles: she serves as the Executive Director of the Hub for Equal Representation at LSE and as a Research Director at the International Growth Centre for the Firms, Trade, and Productivity Initiative. She is currently on leave at Princeton University for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Her research focuses on labor economics, with particular emphasis on:

• Imperfect competition in labor markets
• Information frictions and their role in income inequality
• Gender pay gaps and employment disparities
• Worker beliefs about outside options and job mobility
• Intersectional effects in workplace dynamics

Dr. Roussille's recent publications reveal a strong focus on understanding the mechanisms behind labor market inequalities. Her work often combines theoretical modeling with empirical analysis using field experiments, natural experiments, and novel datasets. She has made significant contributions to understanding how gender gaps emerge in job search and employment, how worker beliefs about outside options affect labor market outcomes, and how wage inequality influences labor movement dynamics. Her approach spans both developed and developing economies, with research conducted in the United States, Germany, Pakistan, and France.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized through publications in top economics journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Management Science, with additional working papers under review at prestigious outlets like the American Economic Review. Her research has garnered significant media attention from major outlets including Bloomberg, BBC, Brookings, and Business Insider, demonstrating its policy relevance and public impact.

Dr. Roussille is actively involved in mentoring and has recruited numerous research assistants and predocs to work with her on projects related to gender inequality and minority representation in the economy. She has also been involved in initiatives like the Applicant Mentoring Programme at LSE, which supports individuals from underrepresented backgrounds applying to economics PhD programs.

Her research laboratory, connected to the Hub for Equal Representation, focuses on generating evidence-based policy recommendations to address representation gaps in the economy through rigorous empirical research and theoretical modeling.