He holds a Ph.D. degree from University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on Econometrics, Development and Labor Economics with the evaluation of public policies as a unifying research theme. Rau’s current research interests include the development of covariate balancing matching methods for causal inference and the effect of maternity leave policies on cognitive and noncognitive skills in early childhood. He is an Associate Editor of Economia (the journal of LACEA), and his work has been published in The Review of Economics and Statistics, The Economic Journal, Quantitative Economics, and Economic Development and Cultural Change, among other outlets.