Sonia Jaffe

Sonia Jaffe is a prominent Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research, specializing in the Economics and Computation group. Her academic focus encompasses a wide range of topics within applied microeconomic theory, including health economics, matching theory, public finance, and industrial organization. Since joining Microsoft in 2018, she has been involved in significant research initiatives, particularly the New Future of Work project, which examines the impact of remote and hybrid work environments, as well as the influence of large language models on work practices.125

Education and Career Background

• PhD in Economics: Sonia earned her doctorate from Harvard University in 2015, where she was affiliated with the Institute for Quantitative Social Science and the John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics, and Business.
• Postdoctoral Research: Following her PhD, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago.234
• Previous Roles at Microsoft: Before becoming a Principal Researcher in December 2021, Sonia held positions as a Senior Research Economist and a Research Economist at Microsoft.3

Research Contributions

Sonia Jaffe's research contributions are well-documented through various publications. Notable works include:

• "The New Future of Work" reports analyzing shifts in work practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Studies on health insurance markups and quality externalities on platforms like Airbnb.
• Collaborative projects addressing taxation in matching markets and the effects of technological change on healthcare pricing.126

Personal Interests

Outside her professional endeavors, Sonia enjoys engaging in activities such as board games and acroyoga, indicating a well-rounded personal life alongside her rigorous academic pursuits.5

For more detailed insights into her research and publications, Sonia maintains a personal website where her work is showcased.6