Tomomi Tanaka
Founder, Safety by Design Lab
Welcome!
I’m Tomomi Tanaka, Founder of Safety by Design Lab, Adjunct Professor of Economics at the University of Kindai, and Behavioral Science Adviser at BEWorks.
Formerly, I have held various significant roles, including Director of Safety by Design at Match Group (parent company of over 30 mobile apps including Tinder), Head of Safety, Risk, and Compliance at Uber, Senior Economist at the World Bank, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University, Specially Approved Associate Professor at Keio University, and Chief Economic Advisor in Venture Capital.
About Me
My background spans academia, government policy, and the tech industry, allowing me to bring a unique perspective to complex problems.
As Director of Safety by Design at Match Group, I launched and led safety by design programs across the company’s diverse portfolio of brands, embedding safety at every stage of the product life cycle.
I assessed the safety risks associated with developing advanced applications using large language models (LLMs), positioning Match Group as a leader in responsible AI use within the online dating sector.
I also
✓ Advised startups, conducting due diligence and providing post-acquisition support to ensure they deliver safe services.
✓ Taught behavioral economics and game theory to PhD students at Arizona University and Keio University.
✓ Led machine learning projects and assisted governments with policy design and analysis at the World Bank.
My research in machine learning, causal inference, behavioral economics, experimental economics, game theory, and market design has been published in top journals such as the American Economic Review, Games and Economic Behavior, and the Economic Journal.
I have been recognized with the Enjoji Jiro Memorial Prize for the most promising young economist from Nikkei and was named Woman of the Year by Nikkei Woman Magazine.
Leveraging my data science expertise, I developed a simulation model at the World Bank to examine private sector investment impacts on job creation, earning awards from IFC and the World Bank.
Check out my other websites:
- Safety by Design Lab
- Cognitive Bias and AI
- Behavioral Marketing
- Behavioral Economics for Business Success
Let’s Connect
I’m always eager to discuss the applications of behavioral science. Whether you have a project in mind or want to explore the latest developments in the field, feel free to reach out.
Selected Publication
Journal Articles
Machine Learning
Ryan Engstrom, Dan Pavelesku, Tomomi Tanaka and Ayago Wambile (2019) “Mapping Poverty and Slums Using Multiple Methodologies in Accra, Ghana” IEEE [Link]
Causal Inference
Dang, H. A., Raju, D., Tanaka, T., & Abanokova, K. (2024). “Tackling the last hurdles of poverty entrenchment: An investigation of poverty dynamics for Ghana during 2005/06-2016/17”. Scientific African. Volume 25 [Link]
Sato, R., Jamison, J., McGee, K., Oseni, G., Perng, J., & Tanaka, T. (2022). The relationships between adverse life events, depression, economic activities, and human capital investment in Nigeria. Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 38(3), 170-183. [Link]
Behavioral Economics & Experimental Economics
Hisaki Kono and Tomomi Tanaka (2019) “Does Marriage Work as a Commitment Device?: Experimental Evidence from Vietnam” PLOS ONE 14(6) [Link]
Tomomi Tanaka and Colin Camerer (2016) “Trait perceptions influence economic out-group bias: lab and field evidence from Vietnam”, Experimental Economics. Volume 19 No. 3, p. 513–534 [Link]
Sera Linardi and Tomomi Tanaka (2013) “Competition as a Savings Incentive: A Field Experiment at a Homeless Shelter”, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. Volume 95, p. 240–251 [Link]
Tomomi Tanaka, Colin Camerer and Quang Nguyen (2010) ” Risk and Time Preferences: Linking Experimental and Household Survey Data from Vietnam”, American Economic Review. Volume 100 No. 1, p. 557-571 [Link]
C. Mónica Capra, Tomomi Tanaka, Colin F. Camerer, Lauren Feiler, Veronica Sovero and Charles Noussair (2009) “The Impact of Simple Institutions in Experimental Economies with Poverty Traps”, Economic Journal. Volume 119 Issue 539, p. 977-1009 [Link]
Tomomi Tanaka (2007) “Resource Allocation with Spatial externalities: Experiments on Land Consolidation” B.E. Journals in Economic Analysis & Policy, vol.7 Iss.1 Article 7 [Link]
Matching Theory
John Hatfield, Charles Plott and Tomomi Tanaka (2016) “Price Controls, Non-Price Quality Competition, and the Nonexistence of Competitive Equilibrium”, Games and Economic Behavior. Volume 99, p. 134-163 [Link]
John Hatfield, Charles Plott and Tomomi Tanaka (2012) “Understanding Price Controls and Nonprice Competition with Matching Theory”, American Economic Review. Volume 102 No. 3, p. 371-375 [Link]
Working Papers
Dang, Hai-Anh, Dhushyanth Raju, Tomomi Tanaka, and Kseniya Abanokova (2024) “Tackling the Last Hurdles of Poverty Entrenchment: An Investigation of Poverty Dynamics for Ghana during 2005/06-2016/17.” IZA Discussion Paper [Link]
Josephine Ofori Adofo, Nori Tarui, and Tomomi Tanaka (2022) “The Local Economic Effects of Natural Resources : Evidence from Ghana”. Policy Research Working Paper ; No. WPS 10154. Washington, D.C. World Bank. [Link]
Julian Jamison, Kevin Mcgee, Gbemisola Oseni, Julie Perng, Ryoko Sato, Tomomi Tanaka, and Renos Vakis. (2018) “The Relationship between Conflicts, Economic Shocks, and Death with Depression, Economic Activities, and Human Capital Investment in Nigeria“. Policy Research Working Paper; No. WPS 8685. Washington, D.C. World Bank. [Link]
Hitoshi Matsushima, Tomomi Tanaka and Tomohisa
