Welcoming Canishk Naik to the IIES

Canishk joins the IIES after completing his PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and spending a year as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. His research lies at the intersection of behavioral economics and public economics, with a particular focus on mental health and how governments can better support people in meeting their basic needs.

A central theme of Canishk's work is understanding how mental health shapes interactions with social welfare systems. In his job market paper, he examined welfare benefit take-up in the Netherlands, showing that individuals with poor mental health often have some of the greatest need for support, yet face barriers that make them less likely to access available benefits. The paper was recently recognized with the CESifo Distinguished Affiliate Award in Behavioral Economics.

Building on this research, Canishk is currently studying how mental health influences the effectiveness of social safety net programs across a range of contexts. His ongoing projects explore the relationship between poverty and mental health in the Netherlands, evaluate the impacts of a home reconstruction program for households affected by the 2022 floods in Pakistan, and investigate whether combining housing assistance with mental health care can improve long-term housing stability for people experiencing homelessness in the United States.

Reflecting on his first months at the IIES, Canishk highlights the institute's collaborative culture and strong policy focus.

“I joined the IIES because it felt like a close-knit community of excellent researchers who collaborate across fields. It was clear from the start that people here are motivated by working on important policy issues. Stockholm has also been incredibly welcoming, inclusive, and friendly.”

We are delighted to welcome Canishk to IIES and look forward to following his research and contributions to the institute.