This course will critically discuss a series of papers in empirical political economics.

(I) Origins and Methods
We begin by discussing the origins and methods of empirical political economics, tracing its development at the intersection of political science and economics. The “credibility revolution” in empirical economics—marked by a rigorous focus on identifying causal effects—has driven a shift from cross-country comparisons to design-based, within-country analyses in political economics as well.
(II) Field Experiments with Politicians
We examine how researchers design and implement field experiments in collaboration with political actors. Topics include randomization strategies, ethical considerations, and logistical challenges in real-world political settings. We discuss key studies involving politicians and political organizations, showing how experimental designs can uncover the effects of information, narratives, and norms on political behavior. The methodological focus is on the econometrics of randomized controlled trials.
(III) The Elusive Quest for Good Politicians
Political selection is critical to the quality of public policy, yet it has received less attention than incentives and accountability. We explore empirical approaches to measuring political selection and performance, using data on politician characteristics and their in-office behavior. We review studies on the role of monetary incentives, social norms, and electoral rules in shaping who enters politics. The methodological focus is on regression discontinuity designs based on population thresholds.
(IV) Political Persuasion and Beliefs
We focus on how political actors shape public beliefs and preferences. We review recent empirical work on persuasion mechanisms, social norms, misinformation, media effects, and belief formation. The methodological focus is on survey experiments based on information treatments.
Course Assessment:
The assessment will be based on a final assignment, where students will write a referee report on a recent working paper in political economics, applying one of the empirical approaches discussed in class.