Kihwan Bae, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Business and a Research Fellow at the Knee Regulatory Research Center in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University (WVU). Dr. Bae's research aims to improve understanding of how individuals respond to economic incentives, and how they, in turn, shape economic institutions. 

His current work focuses on occupational licensing and healthcare regulations. He has published in the Journal of Human Resources, the Journal of Regulatory Economics, and other economic and health policy journals. His research informs policy debates on occupational licensing reforms, workforce mobility, for-profit education, and healthcare shortages.

Prior to joining WVU, Dr. Bae taught economics and business analytics at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA. He also conducted macroeconomic research as an economist of the Bank of Korea in Seoul, Korea. Dr. Bae received a Ph.D. degree in economics from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, and a bachelor’s degree from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea.