Heski Bar-Isaac

Heski Bar-Isaac is a Professor at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, where he holds the Distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance chair. He has held visiting roles at London Business School (2016-2017) and MIT Sloan (2011). As Managing Editor of the Economic Journal (2020-present) and former Co-Editor of the International Journal of Industrial Organization, his editorial leadership spans major economics journals.

• PhD in Economics (University of London, 1999-2004)
• MSc in Econometrics (London School of Economics, 1995-1997)
• BA in Mathematics (Oxford University, 1992-1995)

His research spans Industrial Organization, Labor Economics, and Reputation Dynamics, with a focus on how information asymmetry shapes organizational behavior, market structures, and career incentives. Key themes include:

• Strategic product design in competitive markets
• Economics of online platforms and algorithmic steering
• Reputational incentives in teams and corporate governance
• Labor market dynamics with endogenous information
• Credit rating agencies and business cycle effects
• Organized crime structure and law enforcement

His recent work analyzes marketplace algorithms, certification economies, and monopsony power in talent acquisition. Papers often intersect Game Theory with Empirical Industrial Organization.

Scientific Awards & Editorial Roles:

• Robert F. Lanzilotti Prize (2024)
• University of Toronto Excellence in Teaching Awards (2020, 2019)
• CEPR Research Fellow (2016-2022)
• Associate Editor, RAND Journal of Economics (2020-present)
• Former Editorial Board Member, American Economic Review (2016-2025)

As Special Economic Advisor to Canada's Competition Bureau (2024-2025), he advises on Digital and Platform Markets. His work appears in top journals like American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics, and Review of Economic Studies.