Mark Duggan is a leading economist whose work sits at the vital intersection of economics, public policy, and health care. As the Wayne and Jodi Cooperman Professor of Economics at Stanford University and Director of SIEPR, he is widely recognized for his research on the economic effects of government programs and the behavior they incentivize.

With a data-driven approach and a passion for real-world impact, Duggan has shaped academic debate and informed policy decisions across key areas such as health economics, labor markets, and social insurance. His work has been published in the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Political Economy, and other top journals.

Duggan has served as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and has advised federal agencies and Congressional committees on health care and social policy reform. His insights have contributed to better understanding of programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance, and the Affordable Care Act.

Main areas of expertise

Economics of the health care sector with a particular focus on:

  • Pharmaceutical industry

  • Health insurance industry

  • Hospital industry

  • Antitrust and market power

Impact of large-scale government expenditure programs including:

  • Social security

  • Medicare

  • Medicaid

  • Disability insurance

  • Unemployment insurance

Other topics in health economics and public economics including:

  • Determinants of health

  • Crime 

  • Homelessness

  • National defense