Patrick Murphy is a public finance expert who engages policy questions primarily through a fiscal lens. As a policy researcher, Patrick has led a number of different applied projects for organizations such as the RAND Corporation, the University of Washington, and the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Finance and management issues have always been central to Patrick’s work, though the issue-areas have shifted over time. Illicit drug policy occupied a significant portion of his early career. Education — both K-12 and higher education — have also been a focus. Topics have varied from the long-term viability of existing revenue sources, to the return on investment for different expenditures, and how best to structure of funding programs given a set of incentives. He is particularly interested in revenue sustainability and the impact of recessions on public budgets. 

He has worked in and with governments, including a position at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and as a consultant for state and local fiscal issues. Patrick has worked in impact philanthropy as well, having led Arnold Ventures' efforts to encourage governments to make sustainable and fair public finance decisions. He also taught policy and politics at the University of San Francisco for two decades.