Dr. Sofia Villas Boas

Professor

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Biography

Sofia Berto Villas-Boas is a Robert Gordon Sproul Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. She was born in Portugal and received her Ph.D. in Economics from UC Berkeley in 2002. Her research interests encompass industrial organization, consumer behavior, and food policy, with a particular focus on how various policies affect consumer behavior. She has conducted notable empirical work, including investigations into the impact of excise taxes on sugary beverages, the effects of bottled water taxes, and the implementation of plastic bag bans. Professor Villas-Boas's published research has appeared in leading economics journals, including the Review of Economic Studies, the RAND Journal of Economics, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, and others. Her expertise lies in the intersection of economics, applied econometrics, and agricultural resource economics, contributing significantly to our understanding of consumer decision-making and market dynamics.

Research Interests

Courses

ARESEC 298 ARESEC 299 ARESEC 400 ARESEC 602 ARESEC 242 ENVECON C118 IAS C118

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.