Abstract: Ambassadors promote domestic exports to a host country and represent the inter- est of their home country at large. However, are trade benefits equally distributed domestically? In the United States, a substantial number of ambassadors are former governors or legislators (“politician ambassadors”). We argue that politician ambas- sadors are particularly equipped with knowledge and […]

Abstract: Health and safety standards offer a convenient means by which governments can credibly claim to be protecting the population, even while pursuing less publicly- oriented goals. In the realm of international trade, such regulatory standards have most often been studied as a method of veiled protectionism that can help nations privilege domestic industry while […]

Abstract: Expanded use of the Chinese currency beyond China’s own borders is an important indication of China’s growing influence in global affairs. Contrary to earlier expectations however, China has only internationalized its currency, the renminbi (RMB), on a very limited scale. While this outcome is not altogether puzzling, we argue that the conventional wisdom on […]

Abstract: Environmental problems often originate at least partially in other jurisdictions. We argue that trans- boundary pollution can increase public hostility towards the polluting country and break accountability links in the country that receives some of its pollution from abroad. We examine this argument in the context of trans-boundary air pollution in South Korea. South […]

Abstract: Many redistributive programs use estimates of need to determine access. These esti- mates, in turn, depend on a formulaic combination of objective measures and subjective evaluations. Such formulas do not eliminate political influence, but instead force politicians to use industrial policy to target individuals by way of their positions as economic producers or consumers, […]

Abstract: National currencies regulated by state monetary authorities have long been associated with nation-state building and the expansion of state control. The rise of cryptocurrencies—that is, digital currencies outside of state control—has the potential to challenge the dominance of the state in this area and to disrupt state-society relations traditionally mediated through state-issued currencies. However, […]

Link to PDF Note: The PDF contains two chapters: the introduction and one empirical chapter from the book. Moderator: Stephen Chaudoin

Abstract: Growing literature examines when states exit international institutions and why. International agreements, however, differ in how easy it is for signatory states to withdraw from them. Why do some states sign treaties that are difficult to terminate, while others prefer treaties that are easy to withdraw from? We investigate this question in the context […]

Abstract: Kidnappings of soldiers, journalists, aid workers, and other civilians by armed groups happen every day, yet the politics of hostage recovery remains understudied. We develop an original theory about hostage deservingness that investigates how hostages’ personal responsibility for their own capture shapes public opinion and elite decision-making. We also examine the influence of traditional […]

Abstract: Over the past decade, China's direct investment in Brazil has quadrupled, making it one of the main investors in Latin America's largest economy. This study examines Brazilians' perceptions of this recent phenomenon. Using a conjoint experiment, we find that Brazilians view Chinese investment as less advantageous compared to investments from Europe and the United […]

Abstract: Did firms shift resources to decarbonization in the wake of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, especially in industries where technology permits relatively cheap low- carbon options? The Paris Agreement marked a key moment in climate cooperation, uniting countries towards a common goal of limiting global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees. […]

Can foreign aid expand fiscal capacity? Drawing on principal–agent theory, I argue that foreign aid builds capacity when the interests of the donor and the political leadership of the recipient state are aligned and when aid administrators in the recipient’s bureaucracy face high-powered incentives to exert effort toward the mission’s goal. Using history as a […]