John Cawley

John Cawley is a Professor of Economics and Director of Cornell in Washington at Cornell University. He also serves as an Honorary Professor of Economics at the National University of Ireland, Galway. His research focuses on the economics of risky health behaviors, particularly obesity, and its intersection with public policy. Cawley has held significant roles, including membership on the Institute of Medicine Committee on Childhood Obesity and advisory boards for the CDC. He chairs the Board of Directors of the International Health Economics Association (IHEA) and previously served on the American Society of Health Economists (ASHEcon) board.

Education: Ph.D. in Economics, University of Chicago; B.A. in Economics, Harvard University.

Research Interests: Cawley investigates obesity’s economic drivers, policy interventions (e.g., taxation of sugary drinks), and the societal costs of obesity. He explores behavioral economics principles in public health, including information disclosure (e.g., calorie labels) and market regulations. His work bridges economic theory with practical policy outcomes, emphasizing evidence-based solutions.

Awards: He has received prestigious accolades, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Investigator Award, SUNY’s Chancellor’s Award, and the CDC’s Charles C. Shepard Science Award. These recognize his contributions to health policy research and scholarship.

Grants & Advising: Cawley has advised government agencies on obesity prevention strategies and led studies on workplace wellness programs. His research often quantifies the economic impacts of health behaviors, aiding policymakers in prioritizing cost-effective interventions.

Labs/Teams: While no specific lab is named, his collaborations involve interdisciplinary teams addressing obesity’s economic and social dimensions through partnerships with public health institutions and academic networks.