Emi Nakamura

Research Bio

Emi Nakamura is a macroeconomist whose research investigates price dynamics, fiscal and monetary policy, and the sources of business cycle fluctuations. Her data-driven research has transformed understanding of how macroeconomic policy affects the economy. She is best known for using innovative new data sources and empirical methods to address important questions about the impact of monetary and fiscal policy using a combination of theory, granular microdata, and econometrics. Her scholarship has shaped central bank and fiscal policy frameworks worldwide.

She is Chancellor’s Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. She serves on the Congressional Budget Office's Panel of Economic Advisors and as co-director of the Monetary Economics program at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Nakamura is a recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal, the Elaine Bennett Research Prize, and the NSF CAREER Award. Her work has appeared in American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Journal of Political Economy.  At Berkeley, she teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduate students in empirical and policy-driven research.

Research Expertise and Interest

macroeconomics, monetary policy

In the News

Prices Are Spiking for Homes, Cars and Gas. Don’t Be Alarmed, Economists Say

The U.S. Department of Labor reported yesterday that the Consumer Price Index rose 5% in May, following a 4.2% jump in April. But at UC Berkeley, high-level economists are offering some calming advice: A measure of inflation is inevitable as the U.S. economy comes back online, but it will likely be modest. And it will almost certainly blow over as the economy stabilizes.

Berkeley Economist Wins Prestigious John Bates Clark Medal

Emi Nakamura, a UC Berkeley economist, is this year’s recipient of the prestigious John Bates Clark Medal , widely viewed as second only in prestige to the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. The annual award, announced by the American Economic Association, is given to an American economist under age 40 who is judged to have made the most significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge.

Featured in the Media

Please note: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or positions of UC Berkeley.
September 17, 2019

Field's Top Young Scholar Asks, Why Don't More Women Study Economics?

Chronicle of Higher Education
FullStory (*requires registration)

May 2, 2019

UC Berkeley's Emi Nakamura Wins John Bates Clark Medal

Wall Street Journal
FullStory (*requires registration)

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent semesters
2026 Spring 2025 Fall

For additional information, please consult the UC Berkeley course schedule.