I am an economist and Associate Professor of Public Policy (pre-tenure) at Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS). At HKS, I teach courses on the economics of health care, public policy, and the social safety net. 

My research studies the U.S. health insurance system, using methods from industrial organization and public economics. I study questions like why America still falls so far short of universal health insurance, how insurance market competition works (and how it could work better), and how ordeals and administrative hassles built into our system make getting health care so complicated.

I grew up in Houston, Texas, and came to Boston for college. I graduated with an A.B. in applied math from Harvard College in 2008, and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University in 2015. I previously worked at the Brookings Institution and the National Bureau of Economic Research.

My faith story is a central part of my life and motivation for my work. You can read more about that story here.

You can reach me via email at mark_shepard@hks.harvard.edu.