Mona Birjandi

Principal Economist and Director of Data Analytics

My Work

I lead Outten & Golden’s Economics & Data Analytics team, where we transform complex data into powerful tools for workers.

For me, numbers are never abstract — they are people’s stories. My job is to make sure those stories are heard and respected, in negotiations, in court, and wherever workers’ rights are on the line. At the heart of my work is the belief that data should not be used to silence workers, but to give them a stronger voice.

What makes Outten & Golden special is its leadership and vision. This is a firm that is unafraid to be innovative and proactive, and is always seeking new ways to protect employees.

I’m fortunate to work alongside attorneys, data scientists and technical professionals who are passionate about using their skills to advance fairness. Together, we harness state-of-the-art technology, novel data, and advanced economic methods to uncover discrimination and strengthen our clients’ cases.

Whether it’s identifying bias hidden in hiring algorithms, calculating damages in class actions, or building data-driven arguments in litigation, my goal is to turn complexity into clarity that supports fairness. My years of experience inside corporations and consulting firms taught me how institutions use data to their advantage. Now, I use that same knowledge on behalf of employees — to challenge unfair practices, level the playing field, and ensure every dataset we analyze shines a light on justice.

At the end of the day, I believe data should empower people — and I’m proud to use it to stand with workers.

Publications and Conferences

“Rethinking the Data and Evidence: A Workplace Fairness Response to “Congress Was Wrong” Article,” with Nantiya Ruan and Adam Klein, The ABA’s Journal of Labor and Employment Law (forthcoming).
“Forensic Economics,” with Patrick L. Anderson, Journal of Business Economics, (May 2025) (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s11369-025-00407-4).
“Detecting Fraud, but at What Cost? Applications of Fraud Detection Algorithms: the Good, the Bad, and What to Watch out For,” Tennessee Journal of Law & Policy, Vol. 17, Issue 2 (May 2025) (https://doi.org/10.70658/1940-4131.1272).
“Post-Graduation Earnings: A Survey of Leading Data Sources for Damages Experts,” with Matt Farber, The Brief, American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Vol. 54, No. 1 (January 2025).
“Can Personalization in Online Employment Platforms Drive Hiring Bias?” with Enrique Areyan Viqueira, Competition Policy International, (June 2024) (https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/can-personalization-in-online-employment-platforms-drive-hiring-bias/)
“A Vision for Economic Clerkships in the Legal System,” with Matt Farber, Law360, (May 2024), (https://secretariat-intl.com/insights/a-vision-for-economic-clerkships-in-the-legal-system/)
“Bringing Experimentation to Intellectual Property Litigation,” with Matt Farber, Landslide, American Bar Association, (February 2024) (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/intellectual_property_law/publications/landslide/2023-24/march-april/bringing-experimentation-intellectual-property-litigation/)
“Utility Energy Efficiency Program Performance from a Climate Change Perspective: A Comparison of Structural and Behavioral Programs,” with Paul Hibbard, et al., Oracle Article (August 2020) (https://go.oracle.com/LP=97548?elqCampaignID=262134)
“When the Dust Settles: Productivity and Economic Losses Following Dust Storms,” with Kowsar Yousefi, PhD Dissertation: Chapter I, Yale Department of Economics (November 2017)
“Dust and Mortality Rate: Evidence from the Middle East,” PhD Dissertation: Chapter II, Yale Department of Economics (September 2017)
“Manufacturers Acting as Intermediaries” with Parisa Kamali, PhD Dissertation: Chapter III, Yale Department of Economics (May 2017)
“Women’s Access to Justice in the Middle East & North Africa: An Empirical Investigation,” with Nadereh Chamlou, et al., World Bank Working Paper (March 2013) (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3169443)
“Making the Green Climate Fund’s Allocations Add Up to its Ambition,” with Clifford Polycarp, et al., WRI Paper (December 2013) (https://www.wri.org/research/sum-parts).
Moderator, “What is Forensic Economics and the Role of the Damages Expert?” National Association of Business Economics. 2025
Panelist, “An Overview of Different Patent Valuation Models and Damages Calculations” ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law, 2024
Moderator, “Strategic Pricing Using Cutting-Edge Methods and Data-Driven Solutions” National Association of Business Economics Tech Economics Conference, 2023
Moderator, “Generative AI Implications for Retail and Consumers” National Association of Business Economics, 2023
Panelist, “Fetching Pricing Insights in the Snowflake Data Cloud”
Snowflake Webinar Series, 2023
Moderator, “Transitioning to Tech from Other Sectors” National Association of Business Economics Tech Economics Conference, 2022

Credentials

Ph.D., Economics, Yale University
M.A., Economics, Yale University
M.A., Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
M.B.A., Sharif University of Technology
B.Sc., Industrial Engineering, Sharif University of Technology
Chair, Forensics Economics Roundtable, National Association for Business Economics, 2025
Chair, U.S. Consumer, Retail & Technology Economics Roundtable, National Association for Business Economics

My Story

As I began my career in economics, I discovered that numbers aren’t just abstract figures — they’re stories about people, their opportunities, and the barriers they face.

Over the years, my path has taken me across continents. I’ve worked inside consulting firms and corporate boardrooms, helping global companies make sense of their data and shape strategy. But I also saw the other side: how those same systems can leave workers unheard, treated unfairly, or pushed aside by decisions made in the name of efficiency or profit.

That perspective brought me to Outten & Golden. I believe workers deserve someone who can translate the technical world of data into a voice that speaks for fairness.

My background in economics helps me uncover patterns of inequality, challenge biased systems, and stand up for people whose stories might otherwise be lost in the numbers. At the end of the day, data should serve people — and I want to make sure it serves workers.