Jason Fletcher is a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with appointments in Applied Economics and Population Health Sciences. His research spans health economics, social genomics, and the long-run effects of early-life conditions on later-life health, cognition, and mortality.
He leads the American Mortality Project, which uses linked census and death records to study how historical events, public health policies, family factors, and structural racism shape U.S. lifespan. A 2023 Guggenheim Fellow, he previously directed UW–Madison’s Center for Demography of Health and Aging (CDHA, 2018–2023) and the Wisconsin Research Data Center (WiscRDC, 2018–2022).
He is an affiliate of CDE and IRP; a research associate with NBER and IZA; and a member of SSN and HCEO.
News
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The Long Shadow of Early Life — NBER Reporter
An overview of the American Mortality Project research program on early-life exposures and old-age longevity. July 2026
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American Mortality Project
Project site and NBER-supported research tracing mortality by place, time, and family. 2026
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2023 Guggenheim Fellowship
Fellowship supporting work on early-life conditions and U.S. mortality. April 2023
Publications
Follow & read
Substack
Essays and updates on mortality, social genomics, and policy research.
Bluesky @jasonmfletcher.bsky.social
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Recent on Bluesky
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Top economics research jumps over a low hurdle
Sep 30, 2026 · also on Substack -
A new focus of college education—creating experienced managers (of AI agents)
Sep 28, 2026 -
AI can help us fix science by attacking the worst evidence
Sep 14, 2026 -
NBER Reporter outline of the early-life / old-age mortality research program
Jul 13, 2026
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