Alberto Motta

Professor Alberto Motta is a Professor of Economics at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Economics within the UNSW Business School. His research focuses on Contract and Organization Theory, Development Economics, and Labor Economics, with an emphasis on applying experimental methods and randomized controlled trials to improve educational outcomes through technology. He is a Fellow of UNSW's Scientia Education Academy and co-chair of the STEP UP initiative in Education.

His work explores organizational design effectiveness in firms, enforcement agencies, and media, and he combines theoretical, empirical, and experimental approaches to address socio-economic challenges. Motta has secured significant funding through grants, including a $770,000 UNSW Business School Strategy Knowledge Hub grant (2020) and a $105,000 initiative on Good Decisions in Education (2019). He has also received prestigious awards such as the UNSW President’s Award for Building Collaborations (2019) and the Wharton School Gold Medal (2017).

His research spans experimental economics, microfinance, and corruption policy, with notable publications in journals like the Economic Journal, Journal of Development Economics, and Games and Economic Behavior. Motta is actively involved in educational innovation, including the design of serious games and gamified content to enhance learning outcomes. He collaborates widely, engaging in initiatives like the International Growth Centre and the Scientia Education Academy.