Erik Madsen

Erik Madsen serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at New York University's Faculty of Arts and Science, where his research bridges theoretical microeconomics with practical applications in strategic decision-making environments. His academic profile demonstrates sustained contributions to economic theory through rigorous modeling of incentive structures and strategic interactions.

Madsen's research program centers on incentive contracting mechanisms, dynamic game-theoretic frameworks, and industrial organization theory. His work examines how agents navigate complex strategic landscapes involving trust dynamics, business-stealing behaviors, and autonomous decision-making under imperfect information. Key contributions include modeling tariff impacts on state capacity, designing reward schemes for self-directed workers, and analyzing collective action problems in resource maintenance—showcasing his ability to connect abstract game theory with tangible economic phenomena across labor, public, and industrial sectors.

Analysis of his publication trajectory (2011-2025) reveals an evolving focus from foundational game theory toward increasingly applied contexts involving digital labor markets, data-driven incentives, and institutional design. Recent work demonstrates sophisticated integration of behavioral insights with traditional contract theory, particularly in autonomous work settings and collective maintenance scenarios. His research consistently employs dynamic game frameworks to address questions of trust erosion, strategic investment, and competitive dynamics, maintaining strong theoretical rigor while expanding into contemporary economic challenges like algorithmic management and digital platform governance.