Ian Larkin

Ian Larkin is a full-time Associate Professor of Strategy at the Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was appointed Senior Associate Dean of MBA Programs in 2025. His expertise spans Behavioral Economics, Employee Decision Making, Human Resource Management, and Workplace Motivation.

Larkin earned his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (2007), M.Sc. in Economics (1997, University of London), and B.S. in Economics, Chinese Studies, and Japanese Studies (1996, University of Arizona). Prior to academia, he worked as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company in Hong Kong and Silicon Valley, advising executives in banking and high-tech sectors.

His research explores incentive design and HR policy impacts, focusing on unintended consequences of corporate awards, workplace wellness programs, and nonmonetary gamification strategies. He has co-authored influential studies in journals like JAMA, Management Science, and Strategic Management Journal, analyzing how pharmaceutical detailing, compensation structures, and wellness initiatives affect professional behavior and productivity.

Larkin serves as Associate Editor of Management Science and has received prestigious awards, including the Truman Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, and multiple Anderson Teaching Excellence Awards. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and National Public Radio, demonstrating broad societal impact.