CV

You can download JC’s full CV (PDF) here.

Education

PhD in Economics, UP School of Economics, 2015–2021
MA in Economics, UP School of Economics, 2011–2013
BS in Economics, UP School of Economics, 2005–2009, summa cum laude

Work experience

2022–present: Assistant Professor, UP School of Economics
2013–2021: Teaching Fellow, UP School of Economics
2018–2019: Research Coordinator, FEU Public Policy Center
2016–present: Columnist, Rappler.com
2014–2015: Head Executive Assistant, National Economic and Development Authority
2013–2014: Consultant, World Bank office in Manila
2013–2016: Contributor, Rappler.com
2012–2013: Economist, Securities and Exchange Commission
2011: Junior Research Assistant, Institute to Study Inequality, Poverty, and Social Protection

Skills

Quantitative analysis (econometrics, causal inference)
Research project management (e.g., Philippine Microfinance Survey)
Software: Stata, Python, R

Publications

Who benefits from suspending fuel excise taxes in the Philippines?

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2026). "Who benefits from suspending fuel excise taxes in the Philippines?" UPSE Policy Note.

Oil price pass-through in the Philippines: decomposing fuel and non-fuel inflation

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2026). "Oil price pass-through in the Philippines: decomposing fuel and non-fuel inflation." UPSE Discussion Paper No. 2026-03.

Shaky recovery, misplaced priorities: The Philippine economy under Marcos Jr., 2022–25

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2026). Shaky recovery, misplaced priorities: The Philippine economy under Marcos Jr., 2022–25. In C. Calimbahin and B. Dressel (Eds.), Beyond geopolitics: The Philippines in the new Marcos era. ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Affirmative action in Philippine higher education institutions: Evidence from a new survey

Punongbayan, J.C.B. and J.A. Arapoc. (2025). "Affirmative action in Philippine higher education institutions: Evidence from a new survey." Ateneo–EDCOM II Research Paper.

Counterfactuals in economics and allied social sciences: Methods, applications, and debates

Punongbayan, J.C.B. and A.R. Paloyo (2025). Counterfactuals in economics and allied social sciences: Methods, applications, and debates. In Reference Module in Social Sciences. Elsevier.

Debt, dictatorship, and decline: The enduring economic impact of the Philippines’ 1980s crisis

Punongbayan, J.C.B. and E.S. de Dios (2025). "Debt, dictatorship, and decline: The enduring economic impact of the Philippines’ 1980s crisis." Review of Development Economics 30(2): 1418–1429.

Is there a grade penalty for high school track and college degree mismatches? Evidence from the University of the Philippines

Punongbayan, J.C. and J.A. Arapoc (2025). Is there a grade penalty for high school track and college degree mismatches? Evidence from the University of the Philippines. UPSE Discussion Paper No. 2025–03.

Microfinance and household shocks in the Philippines: Evidence from the Philippine Microfinance Survey

Punongbayan, J.C., R. Lopa, S. Sarne, R.H. Bendaña, J.M. Robredo, and N.A. Cobarrubias (2025). Microfinance and household shocks in the Philippines: Evidence from the Philippine Microfinance Survey. WeSolve Foundation Technical Report.

Supply and demand components of Philippine inflation (2001–2024)

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2025). "Supply and demand components of Philippine inflation (2001–2024)." Applied Economics Letters, 1–7.

Rethinking ayuda for sustainable development

Punongbayan, J.C.B. and Z.N. Suzara (2025). "Rethinking ayuda for sustainable development." INCITEGov Policy Note.

The Philippine Journal of Development in the early 21st century (2002–2023)

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2024). "The Philippine Journal of Development in the early 21st century (2002–2023)." Philippine Journal of Development 48(2): 1–24.

Measuring poverty within Filipino households: Examining resource sharing and economies of scale

Albert, J.R.G., C. Bayudan-Dacuycuy, I. Angeles-Agdeppa, J.C.B. Punongbayan, D.L. Cabalfin, et al. (2024). "Measuring poverty within Filipino households: Examining resource sharing and economies of scale." PIDS Discussion Paper No. 2024-37.

Balancing excellence and equity in predictive college admissions: Insights from the University of the Philippines

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2024). "Balancing excellence and equity in predictive college admissions: Insights from the University of the Philippines." Education Economics, 33(5): 794–817.

Returns to education in the Philippines (2005–2022): Declining benefits, increased inequities

Albert, J.R.G., J.C.B. Punongbayan, and M.S. Muñoz (2024). "Returns to education in the Philippines (2005–2022): Declining benefits, increased inequities." PIDS Policy Note.

Conversations with social scientists: Economist Emmanuel S. de Dios, PhD

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2024). "Conversations with social scientists: Economist Emmanuel S. de Dios, PhD." Social Science Diliman 19(1): 92–101.

Rejoinder

Monsod, T.C., E.S. De Dios, C.D. Magno, J.C.B. Punongbayan, et al. (2024). "Rejoinder." UPSE Discussion Paper No. 2024-01b.

How to change a constitution by hand-waving (Or, the unbearable lightness of evidence in support of lifting foreign ownership restrictions)

Monsod, T.C., E.S. De Dios, C.D. Magno, J.C.B. Punongbayan, et al. (2024). "How to change a constitution by hand-waving (Or, the unbearable lightness of evidence in support of lifting foreign ownership restrictions)." UPSE Discussion Paper No. 2024-01.

Much a Duterte about nothing: Continuity, complacency, and crisis in the Philippine economy (2016–23)

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2024). Much a Duterte about nothing: Continuity, complacency, and crisis in the Philippine economy (2016–23). In A. Arugay and J. Encinas-Franco (Eds.), Games, changes, and fears: the Philippines from Duterte to Marcos (pp. 33–58). ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute.

Maharlika Investment Fund: Still beyond repair

Punongbayan, J.C.B. et al. (2024). "Maharlika Investment Fund: Still beyond repair." UPSE Discussion Paper No. 2023-02.

Martial law and the Philippine economy

De Dios, E.S., M.S. Gochoco-Bautista, J.C.B. Punongbayan (2023). Martial law and the Philippine economy. In F. Llanes (Ed.), The Marcos years: The age of crisis and repression (pp. 217–294). SAMASA Alumni Association.

False nostalgia: The Marcos “golden age” myths and how to debunk them

The Marcosian golden age myths: What they are, why they persist, and how to dispel them

Punongbayan, J.C.B. (2022). "The Marcosian golden age myths: What they are, why they persist, and how to dispel them&quot. In L.C. Castañeda and P.N. Abinales (eds.) The Marcos era: A reader (pp. 293–314). Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.

Regulation, market regulation and competition in the Philippine microfinance sector

Punongbayan, J.C.B., E.F. Esguerra, and G.M. Llanto (2022). "Competition and regulation in the Philippine microfinance sector&quot. In H. Hill, M.V. Ravago, and J.A. Roumasset (eds.) Pro-poor development policies: lessons from the Philippines and East Asia (pp. 595–632). Singapore: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.

Convergence of Philippine spatial inequality during the American colonial period

Punongbayan, J.C.B., J.G. Williamson, and K.L. Jandoc (2022). "Convergence of Philippine spatial inequality during the American colonial period&quot. In H. Hill, M.V. Ravago, and J.A. Roumasset (eds.) Pro-poor development policies: lessons from the Philippines and East Asia (pp. 390–413). Singapore: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.

Awards

UP Diliman Centennial Professorial Chair (2024 and 2025)
Inkwell of Change Award, 11th PARAGALA: Central Luzon Media Awards, 6 December 2024
The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award 2023, JCI Philippines and TOYM Foundation
José Encarnación Award for Excellence in Economics, UPSE
Gerardo P. Sicat Award for Best Undergraduate Thesis, UPSE

Fellowships

Visiting Fellow, Philippine Studies Programme, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute
Research Fellow, Ateneo-EDCOM II; edcom2.gov.ph
Research Fellow, GRIT Labs
Fellow, Social Weather Stations

Service and leadership

Associate Editor, Social Science Diliman
Member, UP Admissions Evaluation Committee
Member and Trustee, INCITEGov
Co-Founder, Usapang Econ

JC Punongbayan

CV