Professor William C. Hsiao

K.T. Li Research Professor of Economics

William Hsiao is the K.T. Li Research Professor of Economics and directed the Health Financing Program at Harvard University.  Hsiao was elected to be a member of the US National Academy of Medicine.  Hsiao received his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.  He is also a fully qualified actuary with extensive experience in private and social health insurance and pension.

Hsiao has conducted health financing studies for more than four decades.  He was actively engaged in designing universal health insurance programs and health system reforms for many countries, including the USA, China, Colombia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Sweden, Cyprus, Uganda and South Africa.  Taiwan awarded him the Presidential Medal for his design of its successful Universal Health Insurance system.  The state of Vermont commissioned him to design the single-payer system for the state. Currently he is involved with an economic analysis of Medicare for All, proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders.

He has published more than 200 papers and several books and served on several editorial boards of professional journals.  Hsiao served as an advisor to three US presidents, US Congress, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, International Labor Organization and International Advisory Board on health policy for several nations. He is a recipient of honorary doctoral degree and honorary professorships from several universities.