Aims

The Research Programme in Political Economy studies the relationship between political and economic systems. The programme’s primary goal is to gain deeper insight into several key areas and topics. These include the determinants of voting behaviour and policy-making decisions; institutions’ role in shaping economic policy and economic and political outcomes; the political economy of immigration, technological change, trade shocks and climate change; and the effects of fiscal and political decentralization. The programme also aims to provide insights into the impact of political institutions and actors on public service and goods provision, focusing on the broader implications for national, regional and local dynamics. Overall, the programme seeks to understand the determinants of accountability and institutional and government quality at different levels and their influence on societal advancement, with the aim of producing valuable knowledge and insights for policy-making and institutional design.

The program is led by the researchers Andreu Arenas and Matteo Gamalerio.