Ari Anisfeld

I am an applied microeconomist studying how young people understand their place in the world, discover opportunities, and make critical life decisions. I use experiments and quasi-experiments paired with tools from econometrics and machine learning.

In Macedonia, I investigate how segregation in the education system impacts students' skills, preferences and beliefs. Through my role with the U.S. Department of Education, I explore why many students struggle to complete college, focusing on the interplay between public policy, institutional barriers and student behavior. I'm also interested in the factors that influence neighborhood effects and how these shape individuals' lives.

Before pursuing the PhD, I taught middle school math in Thoreau, New Mexico, was an Education Fellow at NYC Department of Education and served as a Research and IT Fellow at Gobabeb Research and Training Center in Namibia. These experiences inform my commitment to applied research that bridges theory and practice.