Dr. Ioan-Sebastian Buhai is an economist whose research interests span Microeconometrics, Labour Economics, Industrial Organization, and Applied Microeconomics broadly conceived. Born in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania (Romania), Dr. Buhai holds a PhD and MPhil in Economics from the Tinbergen Institute and Erasmus University Rotterdam, as well as dual undergraduate degrees from University College Utrecht, Utrecht University: a BSc in Sciences (Mathematics & Theoretical Physics) and a BA in Social Sciences (Economics, Law, & Political Sciences).

He currently has principal affiliations with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) – Institute of Economics, Stockholm University – Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), and University of Minho – Centre for Research in Economics and Management (NIPE). Over the course of an unusually international career, he has held prior long-term and visiting positions at several other prestigious institutions, including the Center for Economics Research and its Applications (CEPREMAP) in Paris, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF) in Rome, Northwestern University, the Chicago Fed, Aarhus University, VU University Amsterdam, and University College London.

His research has secured prestigious grants and fellowships totaling nearly €500,000, including a competitive 3-year Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship for Career Development jointly hosted by Northwestern University and Aarhus University, where he was mentored by Nobel Laureate Dale Mortensen. His work has been published in leading scientific journals such as Econometrica and the Journal of Business and Economic Statistics.

Dr. Buhai has taught graduate and undergraduate courses aligned with his research expertise across multiple countries and institutions. He has also served as an independent expert for various public and private organizations, evaluating research and policy proposals at national and international levels.

Committed to the broader societal implications of his work, Dr. Buhai has been a vigilant observer and critical voice on science, education, and socio-economic policy, particularly in Romania, for over two decades. Through essays, interviews, and public engagement, he fosters informed debate and champions evidence-based policy reforms that advance society.

Ego: academic, economist, bon vivant (most eclectically). Alter ego.
Deeper: follow me on Bluesky and X (Twitter), flip through my blog.

Take a look at my research profile, distilled into five concise slides.
Consult my shorter research bio/ profile on the IZA Bonn’s website.

If you read Romanian: consultaţi o scurtă autobiografie în română.
If you also speak it: spre excelenţă in ştiinţe—mai ales—economice.
If you bewail Romania’s wasting its boon: economie, caut strategie!
Some live RO TV interventions: Ucraina/ joburi viitor/ salariu minim.

A RO public live lecture: Economia—între știință, artă și politici publice.
Recent media coverage (mostly, but not solely, in the Romanian press).
Recent essays for a wider audience (mostly, but not only, in Romanian).

Live 2025 Polish TV (TVP World) intervention in English, on Romania.
Romania 2021, socio-economically: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
If you are—or sympathize with—Romanian economists: read & rise!

Pics with: my precious; my better half; more top econs; a super econ.

Maps of the cities in which I lived so far and countries which I visited.

“Publish AND perish” isn’t healthier than “publish OR perish”. Really!

Nota bene: I do not use (never used; no plans to use) Facebook (Meta).