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Home / Isaac Opper
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  • Public Policy

Isaac Opper

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

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Isaac M. Opper is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is an applied microeconomist, who uses and develops a range of empirical techniques to shed light on important policy-relevant questions. Much of his work combines quasi-experimental variation with either economic theory or novel econometric techniques to better understand the full policy implications of educational interventions. His work has been published in academic journals (e.g., American Economic Review, Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Econometrics, Nature Human Behavior, and PNAS), written about in popular media (e.g., New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Barrons), and cited by policy makers.

Prior to joining UCLA, he worked at RAND where he also conducted studies on a wide range of topics, including a number of reports on how the U.S. Army can best recruit, develop, employ, and retain talent. Dr. Opper received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and his bachelor’s degree from Colby College.

 

For more information, please visit his personal website at https://sites.google.com/site/isaacopper/.

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Educational Background

  • Ph.D. in Economics, Stanford University
  • M.A. in Economics, Stanford University
  • B.A. Majors in Economics and Mathematics (Magna Cum Laude), Colby College

Areas of Expertise

  • Applied Microeconomics, Econometrics, Education, Labor Economics

Latest News

Measuring the Impact of the Community Schools Model
December 22, 2025

UCLA Luskin's Isaac Opper says well-implemented programs can yield measurable gains over time.

Headshot of new assistant professor Isaac Opper and on the right a headshot of new assistant professor Carlo Medici.
Two New Faculty Members Join UCLA Luskin Department of Public Policy
October 15, 2025

This fall, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs welcomes two new assistant professors to its Department of Public Policy: Isaac Opper and Carlo Medici.

Latest News

Measuring the Impact of the Community Schools Model

December 22, 2025

UCLA Luskin's Isaac Opper says well-implemented programs can yield measurable gains over time.

Headshot of new assistant professor Isaac Opper and on the right a headshot of new assistant professor Carlo Medici.

Two New Faculty Members Join UCLA Luskin Department of Public Policy

October 15, 2025

This fall, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs welcomes two new assistant professors to its Department of Public Policy: Isaac Opper and Carlo Medici.

Contact Information

Email

iopper@ucla.edu

Office Location

6325, Public Affairs

Media Contact

For media inquiries, contact Kate Shirley at kshirley@luskin.ucla.edu (email preferred) or 310-206-5252.

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  • Public Policy
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Graduate Programs
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
  • Master of Public Policy (MPP)
  • Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
  • Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
  • Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP)
  • PhD in Social Welfare
  • PhD in Urban Planning
Undergraduate Programs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
  • BA in Public Affairs
  • Minor in Urban and Regional Studies
  • Minor in Gerontology
  • Minor in Public Affairs
Professional Certificates
  • Data Analytics Certificate
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Admissions
Program Specific Admissions
  • Public Policy
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  • Undergraduate Program
  • Public Policy
  • Real Estate Development
  • Social Welfare
  • Urban Planning
  • Undergraduate Program
Faculty
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  • All Faculty
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  • All Faculty
  • Public Policy
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Leadership
  • Our Dean
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Research Centers
  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

    Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL):

    Uses data visualization to improve decision-making for family and child services.

  • Berggruen Governance Index

    Evaluates the quality of political governance and democracy worldwide.

  • Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK)

    Specializes in spatial analysis of socioeconomic disparities in neighborhoods.

  • Center for Policy Research on Aging (CPRA)

    Explores the societal and policy implications of an aging population.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)

    A national leader in transportation policy and mobility research.

  • Institute on Inequality and Democracy

    Advances scholarship addressing displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and beyond.

  • Latin American Cities Initiative

    Connects urban planning and policy networks across the Americas.

  • Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI)

    Addresses policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

    Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

  • Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

    Researches housing, transportation, and economic development in Southern California.

  • Los Angeles Education Research Institute (LAERI)

    Collaborates with schools to improve educational outcomes for L.A. students.

  • Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI)

    Focuses on environmental policy, clean energy, and climate justice.

  • UCLA Voting Rights Project

    The flagship project for voting rights litigation and policy research.

All Research Centers
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