Laura Nettuno, PhD

I am an Associate Economist at the RAND Corporation. I also hold research affiliations with the Development Policy Centre (Australian National University) and the Melbourne Institute (University of Melbourne). 

I'm an applied microeconomist with interests in health, labor, development, the economics of crime, and LGBTQ+ economics. I study the economic and policy factors that affect health, well-being, and labor market outcomes for marginalized and vulnerable populations. My work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals such as Labour Economics, the Southern Economic Journal, PLOS One, and others, and has been cited by the CDC. 

Prior to joining RAND, I completed my PhD in Economics at Vanderbilt University in 2025, where I was a trainee in the VU LGBTQ+ Policy Lab and the VU Center for Research on Inequality and Health. 

You can contact me by email at: Lnettuno@rand.org 

I also have a Twitter account: @Laura_Nettuno