Meet the Harvard CID faculty affiliates advancing research in labor and urban economics to better understand how people work, live, and thrive in rapidly changing economies.
Urbanization has long been seen as a pathway to economic opportunity—providing access to jobs, higher incomes, and improved quality of life.
Yet for many, the move from rural to urban areas is constrained by housing shortages, informal labor markets, and inadequate infrastructure. At CID, our research in labor and urban economics explores how to make cities engines of inclusive and sustainable growth.
Faculty affiliates from across Harvard study labor market dynamics, wage trends, housing affordability, employment patterns, and the role of public policy in shaping urban economic outcomes. From analyzing transportation systems and migration flows to examining how urbanization influences inequality and mobility, CID researchers are generating insights to guide smarter, more equitable urban development.
Harvard CID Faculty Affiliates Shaping the Future of Work and Cities
Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics, Harvard University
Gordon Hanson
Gordon Hanson
Academic Dean for Strategy and Engagement; Peter Wertheim Professor in Urban Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
Associate Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
Assistant Professor of Economics, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
Featured Research on Labor and Urban Economics
CID faculty research insights look at publications by Harvard faculty that have shaped current understanding of labor markets, migration, and urban change. These summaries distill complex findings into accessible takeaways for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers.
CID Faculty Publications
Read the latest research from CID faculty affiliates on labor and urban economics, covering topics such as employment trends, wage dynamics, urbanization, housing markets, and the future of work. These publications offer data-driven insights to inform policy and drive inclusive economic development.
CEO-Firm Matches and Productivity in 42 Countries
CEO-Firm Matches and Productivity in 42 Countries
CEOs mismatched to their firms—especially a lack of leader-type CEOs in developing countries—can cut productivity by up to 20%. Aligning CEO skills with firm needs and improving business education could unlock significant economic growth.
CID Faculty Affiliate:
Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora, Mexico, is a wealthy and diverse city that has lagged in employment and output growth. As part of its cities research agenda, the Growth Lab launched this project to explore how Hermosillo can unlock its growth potential and catch up with national and global peers.
CID Faculty Affiliate: Ricardo Hausmann
Infrastructure Inequality: Who Pays the Cost of Road Roughness?
Infrastructure Inequality: Who Pays the Cost of Road Roughness?
Which Americans experience the worst infrastructure? What are the costs of living with that infrastructure? We measure road roughness throughout America using vertical acceleration data from Uber rides across millions of American roads.
CID Faculty Affiliate:
Explore research from Harvard CID faculty affiliates addressing critical questions around employment, urbanization, and economic opportunity.