Political Economy
The objective of the Political Economy of Human Capital (PEHC) program is to leverage causal inference using observational, administrative and experimental data to study human capital issues at the intersection of political economy, public policy and development.
Through collaborative research, the PEHC program aims to identify the extent to which political institutions alter the quality of local public goods – from the structure of the economy, to the distribution of property rights – and if so, how: considering the impact of political institutions on human capital, the capacity of elected leaders to govern and the quality of deliberative democracy and inter-group relations. The PEHC faculty research can be organized around two themes: representation and the quality of local government, and affirmative action and human capital.
Representation and Quality of Local Government
Political selection and governance institutions are especially important in low-income democracies, where weak institutions impose limited constraints on the in-office behavior of elected leaders. The research in this area studies how formal and informal political institutions affect the nature and effectiveness of political representation, especially of marginalized groups, the competence of elected leaders and the quality of local governance.
Affirmative Action and Human Capital
Affirmative action remains a popular policy tool to redress social and economic inequalities in many countries around the world. The research in this area seeks to better understand the impacts of affirmative action in various sectors of politics and society in advancing the cause of representation and closing economic, political and social inequalities.
Research Highlights
Latest News & Publications
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Immigration, Household Production and Native Women’s Labor Market Outcomes: A Survey of a Global Phenomenon
May 17, 2023There are more than 12 million foreign domestic workers in the world today; most of them are women. They represent 7.7 percent of all migrant... [ More ]
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Liberian Women Count: Evidence from a Macrosimulation of the Gender Dividend
May 17, 2023Women are the bedrock of the economy and of society in Liberia. As of 2016, women comprise 50 percent of the Liberian labor force, supplying... [ More ]
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Seminar Summary — The Power of Exchange: Exposure to Trade Liberalization and Mental Health Outcomes in China
May 15, 2023By Emanne Khan Trade relations between China and the United States reached a major turning point in 1979 when the two countries signed a trade agreement... [ More ]