Michael A. Kuhn

Michael A. Kuhn serves as Associate Professor of Economics and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Economics at the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences. He holds faculty affiliate status at the Center for Effective Global Action and serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization.

Education

• Ph.D. in Economics, University of California, San Diego (2014)

His research integrates Behavioral Economics, Public Economics, Labor Economics, and Consumer Finance through laboratory experiments, field experiments, and observational data analysis. Kuhn investigates how behavioral theory informs economic policy, preference determinants, and elicitation methodology, with significant implications for consumer financial decisions and public program design. His work bridges theoretical economics with real-world applications in food policy, credit markets, and time preference measurement.

Analysis of Kuhn's 13 most recent publications (2012-2025) reveals a dominant focus on digital finance (particularly in developing economies like Mexico), time preference measurement, and behavioral interventions in public policy. His research consistently employs field experiments to study digital credit delivery, food subsidy effectiveness, and cyclical food insecurity, demonstrating how behavioral insights can optimize policy outcomes. A recurring methodological theme involves comparing experimental designs and refining preference-elicitation techniques.

Research Funding & Collaborations

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evidence for Action grants for food policy research
• Center for Effective Global Action Digital Credit Observatory grants for digital lending studies
• University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research grant for food insecurity analysis

Kuhn maintains extensive collaborations with leading economists including James Andreoni, Alex Imas, and Alfredo Burlando. His research leverages international field sites and interdisciplinary approaches through the Center for Effective Global Action, with ongoing projects examining gender differences in educational choices, trauma effects on decision-making, and digital borrower rehabilitation.