Economics · Harvard University

Claire McMahon

I am a PhD student in economics at Harvard University. I study innovation, industrial organization, and health economics. My recent research explores how market shaping can encourage innovation for global health and pandemic preparedness.

Previously, I was a research professional at the Market Shaping Accelerator at the University of Chicago and Center for Global Development. I graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Mathematics and Economics.

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Recent research

All research

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy, Volume 6 · 2026

Selecting Innovation Funding Mechanisms: A Framework for Policymakers

With Matthew S. Clancy, Matthew Esche, Siddhartha Haria, Christopher M. Snyder, and Caleb Watney

A framework to help policymakers choose how to fund innovation, from grants and contracts to prizes and advance market commitments.

NBER Working Paper Related tool: Atlas of Innovation

Research into practice

Tools

Resources for designing and funding innovation.

Innovation funding

The Atlas of Innovation

Explore funding mechanisms for frontier R&D. A toolkit to help policymakers and philanthropists match the way they fund innovation to the problem they want to solve.

Explore the Atlas

Market shaping

Pull Incentive Sizing Tool

A practical guide and interactive calculator for estimating the incentives needed to accelerate innovation, accounting for development costs, risk, and time.

Explore the tool