Patrick Arni

Patrick Arni is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol's School of Economics, specializing in empirical public policy analysis and applied microeconometrics with applications in digital transformation, labor markets, education, health, and social policy.

Education:

• PhD in Economics from HEC Lausanne
• PhD program at Swiss National Bank Study Center Gerzensee
• Master's degree from University of Zurich
• Additional studies at University of Geneva
• Visiting scholar at UC Berkeley's Center of Labor Economics
• Visiting scholar at Tilburg University

His research centers on labor economics and policy evaluation, with growing emphasis on digital transformation's impact on skill demand. Methodologically, he employs applied microeconometrics, duration models, and field experiments to analyze job search behavior, unemployment insurance design, and belief formation. A distinctive focus examines how overconfidence and social interactions influence economic outcomes like labor market participation and health behaviors.

Recent work reveals two dominant trends: 1) Increasing integration of digital transformation with labor economics to study skill demand dynamics using big data from job vacancies, and 2) Continued refinement of labor market policy evaluation through natural experiments examining benefit sanctions, job search requirements, and counseling effectiveness.

Research Grants:

• NRP 77 "Digital Transformation": The Swiss labour market in the digital transformation (SWISSLAB) [2020-2024]
• Field Experiments to Optimise Public Employment Service Counselling [2019-2024]

Dr. Arni leads the SWISSLAB project constructing large-scale job vacancy databases using text mining and machine learning to analyze digital transformation's labor market effects. He designs field experiments for Switzerland's Public Employment Service and maintains an IZA Research Affiliate status (since 2010) with prior Research Associate role (2011-2016).