Rachel Meltzer

Rachel Meltzer is the Plimpton Associate Professor of Planning and Urban Economics at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD). Her research focuses on urban economies, policy impacts on neighborhoods, and issues like housing, land use, and local public finance. She explores economic and institutional 'shocks' (e.g., gentrification, natural disasters) and private provision of public goods via Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and Homeowners Associations (HOAs). Meltzer holds a PhD in Public Policy from NYU and taught at The New School prior to joining GSD. She has authored the textbook *Policy Analysis as Problem Solving* (2018) and serves as a Research Affiliate at NYU’s Furman Center.

**Education**: B.A. in Psychology and Mathematics (Dartmouth College), M.P.A. and Ph.D. in Public Policy (NYU Wagner). **Teaching**: Courses include Urban Economics, Policy Analysis, and Quantitative Methods. **Grants**: Supported by NSF, HUD, and others. **Professional Experience**: Formerly a mortgage officer at NYC’s Housing Preservation and Development.

**Research Themes**: Her work bridges urban economics and planning, analyzing how market forces and policies shape neighborhood outcomes. Key topics include inclusionary zoning, disaster resilience, and the interplay between private governance and public services. Recent work emphasizes localized impacts of global shocks, such as Hurricane Sandy and broadband adoption.

**Awards & Affiliations**: Research Affiliate at NYU’s Furman Center. Serves on the board of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. Recognized for integrating quantitative approaches into urban policy analysis.