I'm Austin Henderson, PhD, a Lecturer (Assistant Professor equivalent) in the Department of Economics at the University of Otago, where I teach Health Economics and Game Theory.
My research sits at the intersection of health and behavioral economics, with interests in aging, communicable diseases, Indigenous peoples, and decision-making under stress. I use experimental and quasi-experimental methods, including randomized controlled trials, laboratory experiments, and administrative data, to generate evidence that can inform real-world policy.
Much of my recent work has focused on American Indian and Alaska Native health, including studies on COVID-19 infection and its social determinants, barriers to testing, food security, hypertension management, and the economic consequences of illness. I have also studied aging and dementia among Tibetan Buddhist monastics.
On the behavioral side, I am interested in how stress shapes economic decision-making, and in auditing and honesty in incentive design. My work has appeared in journals including Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Archives of Public Health, Public Health Reports, and Alzheimer's and Dementia, among others.
I am a 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Early Career Researcher award from the University of Otago Business School.
