Robert Fairlie

Robert Fairlie is a Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Chair of the Department of Public Policy. He is affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). His research focuses on applied microeconomics, entrepreneurship, education, labor markets, racial and gender inequality, and development economics. He employs randomized control trials, advanced econometrics, and large administrative datasets, with a goal of informing policy through rigorous, unbiased evidence.

Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Northwestern University, B.A. in Economics (with Honors) from Stanford University. Visiting positions included Stanford University, Yale University, UC Berkeley, and Australian National University. Funded by National Science Foundation, National Academies, Russell Sage Foundation, and government agencies.

Research interests span entrepreneurship dynamics, educational equity, labor market disparities, and technology's role in education. Notable works include studies on pandemic impacts, racial capital access gaps, and EdTech efficacy in China. His book on entrepreneurship's job creation and survival was published by MIT Press in 2023.

Awards include the Bradford-Osborne Research Award (2020-2021) and recognition from the California State Assembly. He frequently advises policymakers and media on economic and education policy. Grants and collaborations emphasize bridging research gaps in inequality, education technology, and pandemic recovery.

Labs/Teams: Active in NBER working groups and UCLA's Luskin School initiatives. Current projects include longitudinal studies on post-pandemic labor markets and EdTech scalability in developing regions.