Andrew Garin

Andrew Garin is an Associate Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, where he conducts research at the intersection of labor economics and public economics. His work focuses on how labor market structures determine who benefits from policy changes, with particular emphasis on the future of work, gig economy dynamics, and the relationship between criminal justice and employment.

Professor Garin completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 2018, where his dissertation earned the first-place prize for the W.E. Upjohn Institute's Dissertation Award. Prior to joining CMU, he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research methodology frequently employs quasi-experimental designs and tax data analysis to study labor market phenomena that may be underreported in traditional surveys.

His research interests span several interconnected domains:

• Labor market impacts of criminal record remediation policies
• Evolution and measurement of platform gig work (2012-2023)
• Place-based industrial interventions and economic mobility
• Effects of incarceration on employment and earnings
• Public investment in regional economic development

Professor Garin's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on using rigorous empirical methods to evaluate policies affecting 'left-behind' workers in distressed labor markets. His work on criminal justice and employment has demonstrated measurable impacts of record remediation laws, while his gig economy research has developed innovative measurement frameworks using tax data.

Notable recognition for his work includes:

• W.E. Upjohn Institute's 2018 Dissertation Award (first-place)

Professor Garin actively collaborates with researchers across institutions, frequently co-authoring papers with economists like Dmitri Koustas, Emilie Jackson, and Amanda Agan. His research often examines policy impacts through longitudinal data analysis, particularly using IRS tax returns to track labor market trends that may not appear in survey data.

At Carnegie Mellon, Professor Garin contributes to Heinz College's mission of applying economics and policy analysis to real-world problems, with a particular focus on making 'work work for workers' as stated in his professional profile.