Max Spohn

PhD Candidate in Public Policy @ Harvard Kennedy School

Hi! I’m a PhD candidate in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, working at the intersection of psychology, economics, and political science. I am interested in the formation and the effects of political and economic beliefs, such as beliefs about election fraud or social mobility, and how narratives are used to persuade people. I also work on questions related to affective polarization.

I hold a BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from University College London and a Master of Behavioral and Decision Science from the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, I worked as a Behavioral Economist at the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, where I ran online experiments on financial decision-making.

I am originally from Austria and love to travel and try food around the world. Music also plays an important role in my life.