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I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Accounting and Business Administration at Western Illinois University. I received my Ph.D. in Economics from the Department of Economics at Southern Methodist University in May 2022. My dissertation, "Essays in Advertising, Regulation, and Consumer Naivety", was written under the supervision of Prof. Santanu Roy and can be viewed here.
My research interests are Industrial Organization, Information Economics, and Behavioral Economics. I currently focus on issues related to the communication and advertising strategies of firms and the possibility of deception of consumers. I investigate the impact of regulatory measures directed toward the protection of consumers, including behaviorally naive consumers.
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Delhi, India; a Master's degree in Economics from Delhi School of Economics, India, and a second Master's degree in Economics from Southern Methodist University, USA.
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Publications
Publications
Deceptive Advertising, Regulation, and Naive Consumers [Online Appendix]
(International Journal of Industrial Organization, December 2023)
Abstract: In markets where buyers have incomplete information about product quality, consumer sophistication strengthens the case for stronger regulation of deceptive advertising by firms. In a model where a fraction of buyers are naive (i.e., cannot update beliefs based on market signals and believe all advertising claims) and they stand to gain from receiving reliable information about product quality, I show that the socially optimal level of penalty is (a) substantially higher than the penalty required to merely avoid deception by firms and (b) increasing in the proportion of sophisticated buyers. The optimal penalty for false advertising not only discourages deception but also reduces prices by eliminating signaling distortion. Moreover, a low level of penalty is worse than no penalty from a social welfare standpoint.
Working Papers
Working Papers
Disclosure Regulation in Influencer Advertising
Competition between Established and New Brands under Alternative Consumer Responses to Quality Uncertainty (with Sreya Kolay)
TEACHING
TEACHING
Primary Instructor
Primary Instructor
Graduate Level, Western Illinois University
Digital Economy (MSQE): Fall 2023, Fall 2024
Managerial Economics (MBA): Fall 2022 - Fall 2026
Undergraduate Level, Western Illinois University
Principles of Microeconomics: Fall 2022
Intermediate Microeconomics: Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024
Mathematical Economics: Spring 2023 - Fall 2026
Undergraduate Level, Southern Methodist University
Intermediate Macroeconomics: Summer 2021
Industrial Organization: Summer 2017
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Graduate Level, Southern Methodist University
Microeconomic Theory (Ph.D.): Fall 2016, Fall 2019
Trade Policy (MSQE): Spring 2016
Economic Development (MSQE): Spring 2016
International Corporate Strategy (MBA): Fall 2021
Advanced Strategic Management (MBA): Fall 2021
Undergraduate Level, Southern Methodist University
Principles of Microeconomics: Fall 2015, Spring 2017 - Fall 2021
Principles of Macroeconomics: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2020, Spring 2022
Intermediate Microeconomics: Fall 2015, Spring 2018
Price Theory: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018
Money and Banking: Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018
Financial Economics: Fall 2019, Spring 2020
CONTACT
CONTACT
Office Address: Stipes Hall 418K
1 University Circle,
Macomb, IL 61455
Primary Email: a-gupta@wiu.edu
Secondary Email: aagupta@smu.edu ; aastha.gupta491@gmail.com
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