Faculty Spotlight: Vicki Bogan

Vicki Bogan is professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy. Her research interests are in the areas of household finance, inequality and applied microeconomics centering on issues involving investment decision-making behavior and financial markets. She explores questions relating to investment decision-making and household portfolio allocation with the goals of shedding light on how to better model observed behavior and helping to shape policy.

Q&A

How would you describe your main area of focus, and what first got you interested in this field?

I am an economist who studies issues related to financial decision-making behavior. Specifically, I investigate how behavioral biases, market frictions and family structure issues affect financial decisions in a way that can limit wealth accumulation or lead to financial fragility.

I first became interested in this field during graduate school. It intrigued me why households did not make financial decisions consistent with the theoretical finance models that we were taught. I wanted to explore what caused the differences between how financial decision-making was modeled and what people actually do with their finances. 

Could you tell us about something you’re currently working on?

Part of my research agenda investigates how mental health affects investment decision-making behavior. Currently, I am looking into how trauma linked to trust in financial institutions can influence engagement with financial markets. 

What has kept you at Duke?

I moved to Duke just a few years ago, and it has been a wonderful move for me and my family. I have truly enjoyed the collegial atmosphere at Duke and my family and I have loved living in North Carolina.

Would you like to share something you enjoy doing for fun or relaxation? 

I am a big tennis fan. I love to watch tennis and play tennis in my spare time. My all-time favorite tennis players are Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.