Boldrin's research focuses on the theory and application of Dynamic General Equilibrium models. He has written on economic growth, business cycles, asset pricing, the welfare system, innovation theory and technological progress, search theory, the labor market, intellectual property, fertility, and international trade.

He has published three books; the fourth one, written in cooperation with David K. Levine, was published in August 2008 by Cambridge University Press, under the title Against Intellectual Monopoly. He is currently a Fellow of the Econometric Society, an Associate Editor of Econometrica, an Editor of the Review of Economic Dynamics and the Book Review Editor of Macroeconomic Dynamics.

He is also a Research Fellow of CEPR (London) and FEDEA (Madrid), and an economic advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis and to the Bank of Japan. In the past, he has held advisory positions with various governments, international organizations, central banks and private companies.