Dora Costa

Dora Costa is the Kenneth L. Sokoloff Chair in Economic History at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she teaches economic history. She is also a research associate in the National Bureau of Economic Research’s programs on the Development of the American Economy and on Aging, and co-director of the NBER working group Cohort Studies. Costa’s research focuses on labor economics, demography, and health, interpreted over the long span of American economic history. Her work examines long-term trends in health, retirement, elderly living arrangements, and social capital, while contrasting past and present to inform future understanding.

Dora Costa is a Professor of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in Economic History, Aging, and Health. Her research explores long-term trends in health, welfare, and economic growth, with a focus on the interplay between economic development and social change. Costa's work includes studies on the evolution of retirement, the impact of social capital on civic engagement, and the historical determinants of health outcomes. Her research also examines the role of institutional and technological changes in shaping labor markets and living standards. Costa's publications often highlight the intersection of economic policy, demographic shifts, and public health, offering insights into the historical and contemporary challenges of aging populations and health disparities.