Senior Policy Scholar Spotlight: How Talent, Firms, and Cities Evolve Together

Posted in News

Featuring Rahul Gupta

The Center for Business and Public Policy at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business is pleased to spotlight Rahul Gupta, a senior policy scholar, whose research examines how major firm investments reshape local communities, labor markets, and long-term economic growth.

Gupta, whose work was recently published in the Journal of Urban Economics, investigates what happens when a large company enters a city. His work traces the wide-ranging ripple effects of firm entry, from changes in worker migration and wage patterns to impacts on public schools and local supply chains. His current research extends this analysis, revealing how cities absorb large employers and how the movement of highly skilled workers, including inventors, influences innovation and regional competitiveness.

Together, these studies offer timely insights as cities across the country, including Washington, D.C., deploy major incentive programs to attract businesses and revitalize urban economies. Gupta’s research provides evidence-based context to help leaders assess when these investments promote inclusive growth and when they may strain local services.

Join us on December 8 for a Lunch and Learn with Gupta, where he will discuss the findings of his latest research and explore what firm investment means for cities, workers, and business strategy.