Emily Robertson

I am a PhD Candidate in Economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying Urban and Environmental Economics. I'm interested in researching the ways that land use policy, local amenities, and property tax laws affect housing markets. Current projects include an investigation into the effect of historic district designation on home values, as well as an exploration of how tax incentives under California's Proposition 13 have affected the sorting behavior of households. My research employs a wide variety of methods, leveraging causal inference when the data allows while turning to structural estimation for more complex problems.

I received a B.S. in Economics, with a minor in Math, from Portland State University. As a nominally first-generation college student—my mom and I started college at the same time!—I am passionate about making the Economics profession a welcoming space to students from diverse backgrounds. I am a founding member of We are Economics at Santa Barbara (WeSB), a group of graduate students working to raise awareness and provide support to students who identify as women, first-gen, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or any other underserved or underrepresented group in Economics.

Before starting my PhD, I attended culinary school and worked as a professional baker in San Francisco, CA and Portland, OR. I still enjoy baking in my spare time, though I have vowed to never pipe another macaron again. When I'm not testing new cake recipes I enjoy hiking, cooking, crafting, and taking care of my many plants.