ABOUT
What we do at the Social Economics Lab
Our mission is to understand how people think and reason about economic issues and policies. We pursue this by designing and conducting large-scale Social Economics Surveys and Experiments that shed light on people’s economic understanding and provide a way to hear different ways of thinking.
Founder and Director
Stefanie Stantcheva
I am the Nathaniel Ropes Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University and founder and director of the Social Economics Lab.
I study the taxation of firms and individuals, as well as how people understand, perceive, and form their attitudes towards economic issues and policies. My recent work explores people’s attitudes towards taxation, trade, immigration, climate change, and social mobility using large-scale Social Economics Surveys and Experiments.
I have also studied the long-lasting effects of tax policy – on innovation, education, and wealth. Some examples include how R&D policies can be improved to foster innovation, how income and corporate taxes have shaped innovation over the 20th century, and how student loans can be structured to improve access to education.
I received my Ph.D. in Economics from MIT in 2014 and was a junior fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows 2014-2016 before joining the Harvard Department of Economics in July 2016. I am currently co-editor of the Quarterly Journal of Economics.
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Our Team
Research Fellows
Filippo Giorgis
Originally from Turin (Italy), Filippo is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences (ESS) at Bocconi University, where he also graduated from a B.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences in 2022. From January to May 2022, he was an exchange student at the University of British Columbia.
Aside from economics, he enjoys cinema and playing tennis.
He has been working with the Social Economics Lab since July 2023.
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Alfonso Merendino
Originally from Palermo (Italy), Alfonso is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences (ESS) at Bocconi University, after graduating from a B.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi in 2022. Also, from January to May 2022, he was an exchange student at New York University.
Aside from economics, he plays golf.
He has been working with the Social Economics Lab since August 2023.
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Gregory Tham
Originally from Singapore, Gregory obtained a B.Sc. in Economics from National University of Singapore and a MPP from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Thereafter, he worked as an economist for the Singapore Government.
Aside from economics, he enjoys playing football.
He has been working with the Social Economics Lab since June 2024.
CONTACT
Filippo Giorgis
Originally from Turin (Italy), Filippo is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences (ESS) at Bocconi University, where he also graduated from a B.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences in 2022. From January to May 2022, he was an exchange student at the University of British Columbia.
Aside from economics, he enjoys cinema and playing tennis.
He is working as a research assistant for Professor Stantcheva since July 2023.
CONTACT
Alfonso Merendino
Originally from Palermo (Italy), Alfonso is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences (ESS) at Bocconi University, after graduating from a B.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi in 2022. Also, from January to May 2022, he was an exchange student at New York University.
Aside from economics, he plays golf.
He is working as research assistant for professor Stantcheva since August 2023.
CONTACT
Gregory Tham
Originally from Singapore, Gregory obtained a B.Sc. in Economics from National University of Singapore and a MPP from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Thereafter, he worked as an economist for the Singapore Government.
Aside from economics, he enjoys playing football.
He has been working with the Social Economics Lab since June 2024.
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PhD Candidates
Roberto Colarieti
Originally from Rome (Italy), Roberto Colarieti obtained a B.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University.
He is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences at Bocconi University. He has been working with the Social Economics Lab since November 2020.
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Beatrice Ferrario
Originally from Milan (Italy), Beatrice Ferrario received a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University. She has been working with the Social Economics Lab since the Spring of 2020.
As part of the Social Economics Lab, she worked on the data collection and analysis of the project "Understanding Economics."
CONTACT
Pierfrancesco Mei
Pierfrancesco is a PhD Candidate in Economics at Harvard University. He is a Research Fellow in the Social Economics Lab, where he worked on the Immigration and Redistribution, Race and Redistribution in the US, and Understanding Economics projects.
Before joining Harvard, he obtained a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan.
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Sahil Chinoy
Sahil is a Ph.D. candidate in economics at Harvard University. He is interested in political economy and U.S. history, and has contributed to the Social Economics Lab's work on zero-sum thinking and its policy implications.
Before Harvard, he studied economics and physics at UC Berkeley and worked as a graphics editor at The New York Times.
CONTACT
Roberto Colarieti
Originally from Rome (Italy), Roberto Colarieti obtained a B.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University.
He is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences at Bocconi University and he is working as research assistant for Professor Stantcheva since November 2020.
CONTACT
Beatrice Ferrario
Originally from Milan (Italy), Beatrice Ferrario received a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University. As of Spring 2020, she is working as research assistant for Professor Stantcheva.
As part of the Social Economics Lab, she worked on the data collection and analysis of the project "Understanding Economics."
CONTACT
Pierfrancesco Mei
Pierfrancesco is a PhD Candidate in Economics at Harvard University. He is a Research Fellow in the Social Economics Lab, where he worked on the Immigration and Redistribution, Race and Redistribution in the US, and Understanding Economics projects.
Before joining Harvard, he obtained a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan.
CONTACT
Francesco Nuzzi
Originally from Rome (Italy), Francesco is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences (ESS) at Bocconi University. Before ESS, he obtained a B.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi in 2020. Also, from January to May 2020, he was an exchange student at Princeton University.
He has been working with the Social Economics Lab since August 2021.
CONTACT
Matteo Ferroni
Matteo Ferroni is an Economics Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University. Originally from Milan (Italy), he received a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University.
He joined the Social Economics Lab in 2016 as a Research Fellow for the “Intergenerational Mobility and Support for Redistribution” project. He is currently working on the “Race and Redistribution in the United States” project.
He is also independently working on a project aimed at measuring people’s attitudes towards corruption.
CONTACT
Kelsey Pukelis
Kelsey Pukelis is a PhD Candidate in Public Policy at Harvard University and an empirical public economist studying U.S. social safety net policy. She is currently working on an independent project using surveys to understand the stigma associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She is advised by Professor Stantcheva.
Prior to graduate school, Kelsey earned a B.A. from Northwestern University and served as a full-time research assistant at the University of Virginia.
CONTACT
Shreya Tandon
Shreya is a PhD candidate in political economy and government at Harvard University. She
studies labor market frictions, women’s labor market outcomes, migration, and tax
administration, with a focus on developing countries.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, India and an MSc. in
Economics from LSE. Before joining Harvard, she worked as a research assistant at the
Princeton Program in Public Economics.
CONTACT
Alberto Binetti
Originally from Naples, Alberto is a Ph.D. student in Economics at Princeton University. He holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Economics from Bocconi University, Italy.
Aside from economics, he enjoys skiing and chess.
He has been working with the Social Economics Lab since August 2022.
CONTACT
Sahil Chinoy
Sahil is a Ph.D. candidate in economics at Harvard University. He is interested in political economy and U.S. history, and has contributed to the Social Economics Lab's work on zero-sum thinking and its policy implications.
Before Harvard, he studied economics and physics at UC Berkeley and worked as a graphics editor at The New York Times.
CONTACT
Francesco Nuzzi
Originally from Rome (Italy), Francesco is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences (ESS) at Bocconi University. Before ESS, he obtained a B.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi in 2020. Also, from January to May 2020, he was an exchange student at Princeton University.
He is working as research assistant for Professor Stantcheva since August 2021.
CONTACT
Matteo Ferroni
Matteo Ferroni is an Economics Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University. Originally from Milan (Italy), he received a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University.
He joined the Social Economics Lab in 2016 as a Research Fellow for the “Intergenerational Mobility and Support for Redistribution” project. He is currently working on the “Race and Redistribution in the United States” project.
He is also independently working on a project aimed at measuring people’s attitudes towards corruption.
CONTACT
Eu-Wayne Mok
Originally from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Eu-Wayne received a BA in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a MA in International and Development Economics from Yale University.
He has been working as a research assistant for Professor Stantcheva since July 2023.
CONTACT
Kelsey Pukelis
Kelsey Pukelis is a PhD Candidate in Public Policy at Harvard University and an empirical public economist studying U.S. social safety net policy. She is currently working on an independent project using surveys to understand the stigma associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She is advised by Professor Stantcheva.
Prior to graduate school, Kelsey earned a B.A. from Northwestern University and served as a full-time research assistant at the University of Virginia.
CONTACT
Shreya Tandon
Shreya is a PhD candidate in political economy and government at Harvard University. She
studies labor market frictions, women’s labor market outcomes, migration, and tax
administration, with a focus on developing countries.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, India and an MSc. in
Economics from LSE. Before joining Harvard, she worked as a research assistant at the
Princeton Program in Public Economics.
CONTACT
Alberto Binetti
Originally from Naples (Italy), Alberto is currently enrolled in a M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences (ESS) at Bocconi University, after graduating from a B.Sc. in International Economics and Finance (Econ Major).
Aside from economics, he enjoys skiing and chess.
He started working as a research assistant for Professor Stantcheva in August 2022.
CONTACT
Selected Research
You can also send your CV to us using the form below. Please also specify your interests, timeline, and availability and whether you are looking for a full-time or part-time position. We we will contact you when there’s a suitable open position. Thank you!
