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Research Initiative

Political Economics Initiative

Exploring how economic decision-making is influenced by political factors

Faculty Directors

Leonardo Bursztyn, Konstantin Sonin

Description

The Political Economics Initiative is an interdisciplinary research program that focuses an economic lens on the questions, incentives, and choices that shape political decision-making in the United States and around the world. Scholars employ the latest in theoretical and empirical techniques to explore how economic decision-making is influenced by political factors. In doing so, they investigate a broad range of issues, including media and communications, social networks, ideology, identity, social norms, political institutions, and many others. By applying economic tools to questions surrounding the business of political systems, this Initiative sheds new light on politics and its impact on society.

RESEARCH GRANTS FOR UCHICAGO SCHOLARS

The Political Economics Initiative regularly initiates a call for proposals to the full Chicago Economics community for innovative research ideas. We are excited to support cutting-edge research on campus through seven grants to date.

Rafael Jimenez (Student Award)
Proposed Project Title: Haters Gonna Hate: The Micro Effects of Censoring Hate Speech in Social Media

Scott Behmer (Student Award)
Proposed Project Title: Willingness to Provide Biased News

Mateusz Stalinski (Student Award)
Proposed Project Title: Mitigating Affective Polarisation and ‘Echo Chambers’: Experimental Study of Mechanisms

Luis Martinez
Proposed Project Title: Fiscal Rules and Local Development in Colombia

Raul Sanchez de la Sierra
Proposed Project Title: Who Joins Armed Organizations? Moral Sentiments, Economic Incentives, and Social Norms

Daniel Kashner (Student Award)
Proposed Project Title: Disrupting Polarization

Shaoda Wang (Staff Award)
Proposed Project Title: The Selection and the Making of Civil Servants: Evidence from China’s College Graduate Civil Services Program

Associated Scholars

Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Scott Ashworth

Professor, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Maria Angélica Bautista

Assistant Professor, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Marianne Bertrand

Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Willard Graham Faculty Scholar, Chicago Booth
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Christopher Blattman

Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies, Harris School of Public Policy; Deputy Director of BFI Development Economics Center
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Leonardo Bursztyn

Saieh Family Professor, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Co-Director of BFI Political Economics Initiative
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Emanuele Colonnelli

Associate Professor of Finance, Chicago Booth
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Oeindrila Dube

Philip K. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies, Harris Public Policy; Director of BFI Initiative for the Study of Gender in the Economy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Wioletta Dziuda

Associate Professor, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Scott Gehlbach

Elise and Jack Lipsey Professor, Department of Political Science, Harris School of Public Policy and the College
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Emir Kamenica

Richard O. Ryan Professor of Economics and Neubauer Family Faculty Fellow, Booth School of Business
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Steve Levitt

The William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and the College, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics; Director of BFI Price Theory Initiative
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Luis Martínez

Assistant Professor, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Ethan Bueno de Mesquita

Sydney Stein Professor and Deputy Dean for Promotions & Recruitment, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Roger Myerson

David L. Pearson Distinguished Service Professor of Global Conflict Studies, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

James Robinson

The Reverend Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict; Institute Director, The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Raul Sanchez de la Sierra

Assistant Professor, Harris Public Policy
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Konstantin Sonin

John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor, Harris Public Policy; Co-Director of BFI Political Economics Initiative
Scholars / UChicago Scholar

Austin Wright

Assistant Professor, Harris Public Policy

Associated Working Papers

BFI Working Paper • May 17, 2023

The Dictator’s Dilemma: A Theory of Propaganda and Repression

A. Arda Gitmez, Konstantin Sonin
Topics:  Uncategorized
View Working Paper
BFI Working Paper • Apr 8, 2023

Why Did Putin Invade Ukraine? A Theory of Degenerate Autocracy

Georgy Egorov, Konstantin Sonin
Topics:  Uncategorized
View Working Paper View Research Brief
BFI Working Paper • Apr 3, 2023

Public Response to Government Alerts Saves Lives during Russian Invasion of Ukraine

David Van Dijcke, Mark Polyak, Austin Wright
Topics:  Uncategorized
View Working Paper View Research Brief
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Associated Insights

Insights / Research Brief•Apr 26, 2023

Why Did Putin Invade Ukraine? A Theory of Degenerate Autocracy

George Egorov, Konstantin Sonin
In the face of rising opposition, dictators appoint incompetent advisers who are unable to perceive the heightening threat against them. This cycle often results in disastrous policy outcomes.
Insights / Research Brief•Mar 20, 2023

How Are Gender Norms Perceived?

Leonardo Bursztyn, Alexander W. Cappelen, Bertil Tungodden, Alessandra Voena, David Yanagizawa-Drott
A new survey across 60 countries shows that misperceptions of gender norms are pervasive: In less gender-equal countries, people underestimate support for women’s basic right to work outside the home and for affirmative action policies, particularly support among men, while in more gender-equal countries, people overestimate support for affirmative action, particularly support among women, and underestimate support for basic rights; such misperceptions may obstruct progress toward gender equality.
Insights / Research Brief•Nov 01, 2022

Public Response to Government Alerts Saves Lives during Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Austin Wright, David Van Dijcke, Mark Polyak
Civilians respond sharply to threat alerts overall, quickly seeking shelter, but their response attenuates over time; 8-15% of civilian casualties during later periods of the Russia-Ukraine conflict could have been avoided with sustained public responsiveness to government alerts.
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Associated News

Media Mention • Nov 15, 2022

Russia’s Road to Economic Ruin

Foreign Affairs; Konstantin Sonin
BFI News • Feb 10, 2022

BFI Awards Six New Grants for the Study of Political Economics

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is pleased to announce the award of six new grants supporting research by University of Chicago faculty and students on political economics....
BFI News • Feb 3, 2020

BFI Awards 16 New Grants In Support of Economics Research

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is pleased to announce the award of 16 new grants supporting economics research by University of Chicago faculty and students in a...
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