Charles Holt

Charles Holt is the A. Willis Robertson Professor of Political Economy at the University of Virginia's Department of Economics and Director of the Veconlab. His work bridges experimental economics, game theory, and economic education, with a focus on quantal response equilibrium (QRE), asset market bubbles, and belief/risk elicitation methods. He co-founded the journal Experimental Economics and has advised students like Ricky Sahu and Angela Smith on award-winning research.

Education:

• BA, Washington & Lee University
• MS, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University

Holt’s research demonstrates how stochastic decision-making in QRE explains systematic deviations from Nash equilibrium across social dilemmas, auctions, and voting games. His experimental auction designs for institutions like the FCC and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative have informed real-world policy. He also pioneered the Holt-Laury measure of risk aversion and the Veconlab software, used by 15,000 students monthly.

Scientific awards include the 2023 AEA Distinguished Economic Education Award, the 2018 UVA Thomas Jefferson Award, and the 2008 SEA Kenneth Elzinga Teaching Award.