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Virat Agrawal, PhD
I am a health policy and economics researcher at the USC Schaeffer Institute, where I study how government policies, macroeconomic shocks, and healthcare programs affect health and economic well-being.
My work has examined the effects of COVID-19 policies and global vaccination campaigns on health outcomes, mental health, and health-related behaviors. Currently, I am studying how post-pandemic inflationary shocks influence household consumption and health, as well as how Medicare Advantage plans affect healthcare utilization, spending, and health outcomes compared to Traditional Medicare. My research has been published in leading health economics journals, highlighted by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and featured in major media outlets including The Economist, The Washington Times, Newsweek, MarketWatch, and The Sydney Morning Herald.
I use econometric methods to identify the direct and spillover effects of policy choices, with a particular interest in how policies shape incentives, behavior, and outcomes in healthcare and health. I am also interested in understanding where government programs and federal spending create value, and how public resources can be used more effectively. In the long run, I hope to work on solutions that improve government efficiency and strengthen health and economic well-being.
I earned my Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management from USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. Before transitioning into policy research, I worked as a Manufacturing Engineer in the medical device industry. I hold a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
Outside of research, I enjoy working out, playing tennis, listening to policy podcasts, exploring rock music, and spending time at the beach. I love road trips, national parks, and discovering new cities. Some of my favorite places include the Tetons, Zion, Madrid, Rome, and Washington, D.C.
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