Sebastián Puerta

Sebastián Puerta is a PhD student in the Department of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on labor economics, industrial organization, and political economy. He also serves as a Head Steward for UAW 4811, the union representing academic workers at the University of California. His academic research investigates the mechanisms of union power and their impact on workplace outcomes, aiming to understand how unions mobilize members, secure workplace improvements, and thrive in contemporary society. Previously, Sebastián received a B.A. and M.A. in Economics at the University of Georgia, where he earned recognition as a Beinecke Scholar. He also spent two years as a predoctoral fellow at Opportunity Insights, a social science laboratory at Harvard University dedicated to studying intergenerational mobility.