This paper examines how income inequality can affect the polarization of heterogeneous party platforms on climate policy (here: carbon tax). The implied consequences for the uncertainty of climate policy can be relevant for risk-averse investors in "green" technologies. Households are...

Over the past two decades, no two economies have averaged more rapid economic growth than China and Vietnam.But while China‘s income inequality has risen rapidly over that same time frame, Vietnam‘s has only grown moderately. Structural and socio-cultural determinants fail to account for...

In this paper we examine the conditional effect of district income on legislative responsiveness to constituency ideology in the state legislatures. This work is inspired by recent research which reports that, at the national level, elected leaders (Bartels 2008) and federal policy (Gilens 2005)...

This paper studies if devolution of political power in conflict affected areas can reduce violence by providing an institutional means to address people's grievances. In particular, I look at the impact of a local government, introduced in tribal districts in 1996, on Maoist insurgency in India....

Entitlement programs have become an increasing component of total government spending in the US over the last six decades. To some observers, this growth of the welfare state is excessive and unwarranted. To others, it is a welcome counter-acting force to the rapid increase in income inequality....

One strand of research argues that polarized societies find it difficult to reach political consensus on appropriate responses to crises. Another strand focuses on redistribution, asking whether income inequality stifles growth by increasing political incentives to redistribute. Which is...

This dissertation consists of four essays on the decision-making and the effects of international organizations. Its empirical focus is on the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The dissertation shows that political interests influence the IMF's decision-making and that IMF programs have...

Policy and legislative mechanisms that enforce transparency and accountability, and place limits on politicians' behaviour, are useful tools for addressing political corruption, which constitutes a problem of particular gravity in Latin America. A number of scandals have recently come to light,...

Value issues such as climate policy, immigration, or identity politics are among the most polarizing policy issues in the U.S. and other high-income countries. That polarization has been rising over the last decades. I investigate a novel channel of income inequality and political campaign...