Shem-Tov’s research has reshaped key debates in criminal justice and labor economics
UCLA Social Sciences
Yotam Shem-Tov, assistant professor of economics at UCLA has been awarded a 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship, one the most competitive and prestigious awards available to early-career researchers which recognizes and rewards outstanding early-career faculty who have the potential to revolutionize the fields of economics, chemistry, computer science, Earth system science, mathematics, neuroscience and physics.
Shem-Tov studies labor economics, applied econometrics and criminal justice and crime. His research has reshaped key debates in criminal justice and labor economics by providing credible causal evidence that challenges long-held assumptions. One major contribution of his work has been his focus on restorative justice as an alternative to traditional prosecution.
While restorative justice has long been cited as a promising alternative to address conflict and crime, rigorous U.S.-based causal evidence has been scarce. Using data from a randomized controlled trial conducted by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Shem-Tov provided some of the first robust estimates showing that restorative justice programs can reduce recidivism rates by 23 percentage points, offering valuable insights for policymakers seeking effective diversion strategies.
Another key contribution of Shem Tov’s work focuses on the long-term effects of incarceration on labor market outcomes. While conventional wisdom suggests that prison itself is a primary driver of unemployment and recidivism, his work reveals that many individuals already exhibit weak labor market attachment before incarceration—with employment rates below 50% and earnings below the federal poverty line. His findings suggest that the root causes of post-prison economic struggles often predate incarceration, shifting the policy focus toward early interventions, sentencing reforms and employment support programs for at-risk individuals.
Ultimately, his efforts aim to achieve a more effective and equitable system that balances public safety with rehabilitation. Shem Tov’s work has been published in leading economics journals such as: Econometrica, The Journal of Political Economy and The Review of Economics and Statistics.
Shem-Tom joins six other UCLA faculty among the 126 scientists and scholars to receive 2025 Sloan Research Fellowships, UCLA ranks No. 1 among public colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada in the number of new honorees. Yotam also joins past Sloan winners in UCLA’s Department of Economics including David Baque, Natalie Bau, Denis Chetverikov, Pablo Fajgelbaum, Jon Vogel, Dora Costa, Lee Ohanian and Andy Atkeson.
Media Contact: cchaveznava@college.ucla.edu
Related Links:
Sloan Foundation | 2025 Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship Recipients
Sloan Foundation | 2025 Sloan Research Fellows Press Announcement
UCLA Newsroom | UCLA tops public universities in number of 2025 Sloan Research Fellows
UCLA Economics Department | Professor Yotam Shem-Tov Awarded 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship