SoCCAM – Friday, April 10, 2026
The Lowe Institute of Political Economy at Claremont McKenna College invites economists to attend the 15th Annual Southern California Conference in Applied Microeconomics (SoCCAM) on Friday, April 10, 2026.
>>CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW
SOCCAM 2026 PROGRAM
All sessions: Freeberg Forum (LC62), Kravis Center, CMC
Format: 17 min presentation | 8 min discussant | 10 min Q&A (35 min per paper)
8:00–8:45 AM Registration & Breakfast
8:45–8:50 AM Welcome Remarks
Session I: Taxes, Inequality & Work
8:50–10:00 AM
Chair: Kevin Shih (UC Riverside)
Do Taxes Affect Pre-Tax Income Inequality?
Sarah Robinson (Claremont McKenna College)
Discussant: TBD
The Role of College Education in the Rise of “New Work”
Gueyon Kim (UC Santa Cruz)
Discussant: TBD
10:00–10:20 AM Break
Session II: Firms & Strategy
10:20–11:30 AM
Chair: Justin Marion (UC Santa Cruz)
Intra-Firm Competition and Uniform Wages
Simon Quach (USC)
Discussant: TBD
Misleading Science Maps: Firms’ Strategic Responses to Data Malpractice in Alzheimer’s Research
Christian Fons-Rosen (UC Merced)
Discussant: TBD
11:30–11:45 AM Walk to Founders Room
11:45 AM–1:15 PM Keynote Luncheon
Stefano DellaVigna
Daniel E. Koshland, Sr. Distinguished Professor of Economics and Professor of Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley
1:15–1:30 PM Walk to Freeberg Forum
Session III: Beliefs & Choice
1:30–2:40 PM
Chair: Alex Wellsjo (UC San Diego)
Misperceptions and Product Choice: Evidence from a Randomized Trial in Zambia
Ajay Shenoy (UC Santa Cruz)
Discussant: TBD
(Beliefs About) Beliefs About the Desire for Help
Ania Jaroszewicz (UC San Diego)
Discussant: TBD
2:40–3:00 PM Break
Session IV: Health & Insurance
3:00–4:10 PM
Chair: Heather Royer (UC Santa Barbara)
Job Loss and Health Insurance Before and After the Affordable Care Act
Jessamyn Schaller (Claremont McKenna College)
Discussant: TBD
Fit to Consume: How Health Shapes Preferences for Consumption
Adam Leive (UC Berkeley)
Discussant: TBD
4:10–4:25 PM Break
Session V: Policing
4:25–5:00 PM
Chair: Laura Grant (Claremont McKenna College)
Mobile Crisis Response Teams Support Better Policing: Evidence from CAHOOTS
Yotam Shem-Tov (UCLA)
Discussant: TBD
5:00–5:30 PM Refreshments then walk to dinner
5:30–8:00 PM Conference Dinner
Special Thank You to the 2026 SoCCAM Organizing Committee:
Justin Marion (UC Santa Cruz)
Heather Royer (UC Santa Barbara)
Alex Wellsjo (UC San Diego)
Kevin Shih (UC Riverside)
Laura Grant (CMC) Chair
SoCCAM 2026 – Call for Papers
(link to pdf)
The Lowe Institute of Political Economy at Claremont McKenna College invites paper submissions for the 15th Annual Southern California Conference in Applied Microeconomics (SoCCAM), to be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Claremont McKenna College.
The keynote address will be delivered by Stefano DellaVigna, Daniel E. Koshland, Sr. Distinguished Professor of Economics and Professor of Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley.
We welcome submissions in all areas of applied microeconomics, including (but not limited to): development, environmental, experimental, health, industrial organization, labor, law, population, public, trade, and urban economics. We welcome submissions in all areas of applied microeconomics, including (but not limited to): development, environmental, experimental, health, industrial organization, labor, law, population, public, trade, and urban economics. Faculty and graduate students from all California colleges and universities are encouraged to submit.
Submission deadline: January 31, 2026
Submission link: See PDF above
Honorarium: Paper presenters and discussants may request a $400 honorarium to cover travel expenses.
The SoCCAM Organizing Committee will review submissions and select papers for presentation.
Honorarium
All presenters and discussants are offered a $400 honorarium to cover travel expenses. To receive the honorarium, please submit this form to Kelly Alexander at the Lowe Institute by April 30, 2026.
Details for Attending SoCCAM
Lodging
Casa 425 – Claremont
425 W. 1st St., Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 624-2272
Presenters and discussants, please inquire with Kelly Alexander at the Lowe Institute about a room block.
DoubleTree – Claremont
555 W. Foothill Blvd, Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 626-2411
Parking
SoCCAM attendees may park in the Bauer parking lot on 9th Street. Additional parking is available on Claremont Boulevard, Mills Avenue, Blanchard Avenue, and First Street.
