Francesco Decarolis

Francesco Decarolis is a Full Professor at the Department of Economics, Bocconi University in Milan. He is a CEPR Research Affiliate, associate editor of The Review of Economic Studies and Journal of the European Economic Association, and serves on the board of the Association for Competition Economics. His research focuses on Industrial Organization, competition economics, antitrust, market design, public procurement, and digital platform regulation, with a particular emphasis on corruption in public administration, judicial inefficiencies, and innovation procurement outcomes. He coordinates the ERC Consolidator grant 'Competition in Digital Markets' (2021–2025) and has advised public bodies like the European Commission and the Italian Antitrust Authority.

Education:

• B.A. in Economics, Bocconi University (2002)
• Ph.D. in Economics, University of Chicago (2009)

Research interests center on the design and regulation of public procurement systems, including the impact of reputational mechanisms (e.g., vendor rating systems), bureaucratic corruption, and court efficiency on contract performance. He also explores competition dynamics in digital markets, particularly in online search and advertising auctions, and investigates the role of buyer competence in fostering innovation through R&D contracts. His work combines structural econometric models with real-world policy analysis, often leveraging large datasets from Italy and international institutions.

His articles highlight trends in mitigating platform dominance via regulatory interventions and the nuanced trade-offs between bureaucratic discretion and corruption risks. Grants coordination reflects his focus on digital market competition and procurement reforms. Collaborations with institutions like CEPR, NBER, and co-authors such as Raymond Fisman underscore his interdisciplinary approach to policy-relevant research.