Aparna Soni is an health economist and assistant professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs. She studies the impacts of public programs and policies on individuals’ health. Two particular areas of research interests are: 1) the economics of risky health behaviors; and 2) the relationship between health insurance, health, and broader public program participation. Her work has been published in journals such as Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, JAMA Oncology, JAMA Internal Medicine, and Health Affairs, and has received external grant funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Bureau of Economic Research, and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy.

She completed her PhD in Business Economics and Public Policy at Indiana University in Bloomington. Prior to her graduate studies, she worked as an economist at IHS Global Insight and as an analyst at the US International Trade Commission. She received her M.A. in economics and B.A. in economics and journalism from Boston University, where she was a recipient of the Trustee Scholarship for academic excellence.

Aparna Soni joined IZA as a Research Affiliate in December 2020.