Austin J. Drukker

I am a Doctoral Candidate in Economics at the University of Arizona. My research interests are at the intersection of industrial organization and public finance, and my current research agenda focuses on the airline industry.  My work applies structural econometric modeling techniques to study public policies related to topics including transportation, taxation, housing, migration, and regulation. My job market paper uses proprietary data to study the value of airport access for remote communities and the welfare implications of Essential Air Service, a federal government program that provides subsidies to airlines that provide commercial service at certain small airports. I received a $15,000 Dissertation Fellowship from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities in support of this work and a $5,000 Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship from the US Department of Transportation. My work on public financing of sports stadiums has received national news coverage from outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, and the Economist.

In Fall 2023 I will begin as an economist at the Federal Trade Commission.