Jonathan Schwabish

Jonathan Schwabish is a prominent economist and data visualization expert currently serving as a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C. He has held this position since April 2014, focusing on research related to income and benefits policy, while also being part of the Institute’s communication team.1

In addition to his role at the Urban Institute, Schwabish is the founder of PolicyViz, a firm dedicated to improving data visualization and presentation skills. Through PolicyViz, he conducts workshops and provides consulting services aimed at helping organizations communicate their data more effectively.1 Schwabish is recognized as a leader in the field of data visualization, having been named a "visualization thought leader" by AllAnalytics in 2013. He frequently speaks on topics such as open data and effective communication of social science research.1

Schwabish's academic background includes a BA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MA in Economics from Johns Hopkins University, and a PhD in Economics from Syracuse University.1 He has authored several books focused on enhancing data communication skills, including Better Presentations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks (2016) and Better Data Visualizations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks (2021) .1

He also teaches data visualization at various universities including Georgetown University and American University, and hosts the PolicyViz Podcast, which discusses topics related to data visualization and open data.1