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Manoj Mohanan

Interim Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy
Sanford School of Public Policy
Box 90245, Durham, NC 27708
123 Sanford Building, Box 90245, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Manoj Mohanan is an applied microeconomist, focusing on health and development economics, with a background in medicine and public health. His research focuses on topics related to health and health care in developing countries including: performance-based contracts, measurement of provider quality and performance, social franchising, and social accountability / monitoring.  He also studies the role of subjective expectations and beliefs in health care behavior.

Several of his projects feature field experiments, policy interventions and evaluations. Many of his current projects are based in India. 

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Interim Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2024 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Creed C. Black Professor of Public Policy · 2023 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2023 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Professor of Economics · 2023 - Present Economics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Faculty Research Scholar of DuPRI's Population Research Center · 2010 - Present Duke Population Research Center, Duke Population Research Institute
Affiliate of the Duke Center for International Development · 2023 - Present Duke Center for International Development, Sanford School of Public Policy

In the News


Published October 20, 2025
Bruce Jentleson Appointed to U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience
Published September 11, 2025
Podcast: Could You Pass a Citizenship Test?
Published August 18, 2025
Search Committee for Next Dean of Sanford School of Public Policy

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Recent Publications


Beyond the individual: Household activity of daily living limitations, urban-rural residence, and mental health

Journal Article Ssm Mental Health · December 1, 2025 Activity of daily living (ADL) limitations, such as difficulty walking or dressing, are increasing as populations age and experience more chronic conditions. To understand the scope of ADLs and make interventions more effective, it is important to examine ... Full text Cite

Investigating the know-do gap in antibiotics prescribing: Experimental evidence from India.

Journal Article Science advances · September 2025 Antimicrobial resistance is largely driven by overuse of antibiotics, which is particularly common in low- and middle-income countries. We combine provider knowledge assessments and over 2000 anonymous standardized patient visits to providers in India to e ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Medical Scientist Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 2022 - 2027

Consequences of COVID-19: A longitudinal study of child health and mitigating factors in India

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2026

Effects of Negotiated Price Transparency Regulations: Evidence from Hospital Prices

ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · 2023 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 2009 Ph.D.
Harvard University, T.H. Chan School of Public Health · 2004 M.S.
Harvard University · 2000 M.S.P.H.
University of Mumbai (India) · 1997 M.B.B.S.