Alan Mathios

Alan Mathios is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Cornell University. He is affiliated with the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and has served as Dean of the College of Human Ecology from 2007 to 2018. Prior to this role, he was a Commissioner for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education from 2014 to 2020. His research focuses on the impact of regulatory policies, including those by the Food and Drug Administration, on consumer and firm behavior, with an emphasis on health claims in food advertising and direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. His work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation for a Smoke Free World, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Merck Foundation. He has also received teaching and advising awards, including the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Cornell University Kendal S. Carpenter Advising Award.

Alan Mathios is an economist whose research focuses on the intersection of information, advertising, and consumer behavior. His work examines how regulatory policies and market dynamics influence health-related choices, particularly in the areas of smoking, obesity, and nutrition. Mathios has conducted extensive studies on the impact of mandatory disclosure laws, health claims in food marketing, and the role of nutrition labeling in shaping consumer decisions. His research also explores the economics of youth drug use, addiction, and gateway effects, as well as the influence of media portrayal on public health outcomes. Through empirical analysis of markets such as cereal, salad dressing, and cooking oils, Mathios contributes to understanding how information and advertising shape health behaviors and market responses.