Erik Eyster

Erik Eyster is the Department Chair and Professor of Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He is affiliated with the Department of Economics within the College of Letters & Science. His research focuses on behavioral economics, experimental economics, public policy, and game theory, with notable contributions to understanding fairness in pricing, social learning dynamics, and voter behavior in policy decisions.

Eyster's work often combines theoretical models with experimental methods to explore topics such as decision-making under uncertainty, the implications of informational neglect in financial markets, and the mechanisms behind persistent bad policies due to voter misperceptions. His articles frequently address real-world applications, such as improving children’s food choices through policy interventions and analyzing the cognitive biases influencing market and political outcomes.

Notable themes in his publications include cursed equilibrium, the impact of social mislearning in networks, and the role of fairness perceptions in shaping consumer and voter behavior. His research has implications for designing effective public policies, understanding market inefficiencies, and improving educational and health-related interventions.

Eyster’s advising and grants focus on behavioral economics and experimental methods, though specific grant details are not provided here. His office is located in North Hall 3052 at UCSB, and he can be contacted via erikeyster@ucsb.edu.