The results: significant gains in self-efficacy, political efficacy, political interest, and political knowledge. Effects were strikingly similar across three distinct cohorts of participants. The findings show how active citizens can be fostered even in non-democratic, low-resource settings.[6/6]
We use a field experiment: 2,861 participants aged 10-18 were randomly assigned to either the accountability program, or an information-only comparison group. Most participants came from low-income households and nearly two-thirds were girls. [5/6]
Participants learned of their rights to education and healthcare, gathered to collectively assess the quality of services, met with providers and officials to demand specific improvements, and followed up on those commitments over time. [4/6]
Civic education is a standard response to youth disengagement from politics. But much of the literature focuses on classroom instruction. We study an experiential alternative: young people engaged in holding local officials to account for the quality of public services in their community. [3/6]
How can young citizens be empowered to understand their rights and demand accountability from those in power, particularly in environments where resources for education are limited and democratic institutions are weak? [2/6]
🧵New article out in the Quarterly Journal of Political Science. Munshi Sulaiman and I evaluate a novel accountability-based approach to civic education, enabling young people to hold their local authorities to account for the quality of public services.
Link: www.emerald.com/qjps/article... [1/6]
We will host a South Asia APSA pre-conference at Harvard on Sept 2.
If you would like to present a paper, serve as a discussant, or only attend the workshop or happy hour, please submit your info by March 15 (extended deadline):
forms.gle/ZDau8Jm86kJt...
Feel free to circulate widely!
The Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications to fill a postdoctoral fellowship position for the 2026-2027 academic year. A truly great gig!
casi.sas.upenn.edu/casi-postdoc...
Coauthors Liz Sperber, O’Brien Kaaba and I have published 3 papers about youth civic ed and political participation, based on a WhatsApp experiment and a prior in-person pilot conducted in collaboration w/ Caritas Zambia CCMG Zambia @poverty-action.bsky.social and United Council of Churches Zambia
Looking for a postdoc in American politics? Come work with us in Ann Arbor! No obligations other than research. Preference for institutions-focused work, but we’re open to a wide range of substantive interests (including local politics!). Happy to answer any questions: apply.interfolio.com/178829
Excited the first paper I worked on in grad school came out @thejop.bsky.social this fall: doi.org/10.1086/734242
I find political competition causally increases deforestation by prompting politicians to weaken bureaucratic capacity. 3 fieldwork rounds,many rejections,~a decade(?) later, it’s out! 🥲
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
New paper in @ajpseditor.bsky.social. Is descriptive representation good for substantive representation? Why do voters stay loyal to corrupt and poorly governing ethnic parties? I argue that we ought to focus less on patronage and more on dignity concerns. Defiant pride can come at a price. 1/🧵
Professors:
🚨Jobs!🚨
3-year PostDoc positions (aka Research Officers) at @lsegovernment.bsky.social to work with me on the local consequences of border change. Please reach out for questions and apply by Jan 4th to join the team and department: I’d love to hear from you!
Job ad: jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Thank you, Emmerich! Thanks especially for your helpful feedback when the project was just getting started.