Ryan Sullivan, Ph.D.

Profile

Labor and financial economist with 15+ years of experience delivering rigorous economic analysis, statistical modeling, and policy evaluation. Expert in wage and employment outcomes, economic damages, risk valuation, and labor market policy. Provides consulting services to law firms, state-wide government agencies, and private-sector clients, including expert witness support in employment, disability compensation, wage and hour, and class action matters.

Core Expertise

• Economic damages and lost earnings (employment & disability cases)

• Pay equity audits & employment discrimination analysis

• Wage and hour litigation (misclassification, overtime, minimum wage)

• Value of statistical life (VSL) and risk compensation

• Labor market and workforce studies

• Cost-benefit analysis and public policy evaluation

• Class action support (damages modeling, statistical analysis)

Education

• Ph.D., Economics, Syracuse University, 2010

• M.S., Economics, Iowa State University, 2005

• B.S., Economics, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2002

Select Publications & Research

• Do Workers Undervalue COVID-19 Risk? — Journal of Risk and Uncertainty (2025)

• Combat, Casualties, and Compensation — Contemporary Economic Policy (2022)

• New Estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life — American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (2015)

• Research has been featured in such prominent outlets as The Economist, Forbes, Foreign Affairs, Time Magazine, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, and The Wall Street Journal.

Consulting & Litigation Experience

• Expert analysis in disability compensation and employment litigation

• Principal Investigator, salary equity and workforce studies, U.S. Navy

• Cost-benefit analysis of military and public-sector risk policies

• Invited expert for the Congressional Budget Office, GAO, FDA, and military commands

Academic & Professional Positions

• Associate Professor of Financial Management, Naval Postgraduate School (2017–present)

• Area Chair, Financial Management Group, Naval Postgraduate School (2022–2025)

• Assistant Professor of Economics, Naval Postgraduate School (2010–2016)

Military Service

• U.S. Army National Guard (1998–2006)

• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance (2011–present)

Contact

To discuss consulting services, expert witness support, or economic studies:

rssulliv@gmail.com | (515) 451-9407