معرفی
Manasi Deshpande is an Associate Professor of Economics (with tenure) at the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics and the College at the University of Chicago, serving since 2016. She co-directs the Graduate Placement program. Her research focuses on empirical public finance and labor economics, particularly the effects of social insurance and public assistance programs on labor markets and household behavior.
She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2015). Her work combines theoretical models with large-scale empirical methods, including randomized controlled trials and regression discontinuity designs to study policy impacts. Notable projects include evaluating the consequences of SSI removal on low-income youth and analyzing the criminal justice and financial outcomes linked to disability programs.
Her research interests emphasize understanding how safety nets affect human capital investments, income dynamics, and behavioral responses. She collaborates with institutions such as the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), Social Security Administration (SSA), and state vocational rehabilitation agencies. Her findings challenge conventional assumptions about dynamic discouragement effects, suggesting families may prioritize alternative coping mechanisms over increased investments in human capital.
Manasi has received prestigious awards, including the 2024 AEJ: Applied Best Paper Award and the 2016 NASI John Heinz Dissertation Award. Her grants come from bodies like NSF, NIH, Russell Sage Foundation, and SSA. She actively promotes evidence-based policy and has engaged in large-scale experimental studies involving thousands of participants, addressing gaps in disability program targeting and transitions.
Labs/teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams including the SSA, NBER, and state agencies to design and evaluate interventions for vulnerable populations. She co-leads projects with researchers like Rebecca Dizon-Ross and Michael G. Mueller-Smith, focusing on social policy and its societal impacts.
