David Primo

David Primo is the Ani and Mark Gabrellian Professor of Political Science and Business Administration at the University of Rochester, where he also serves as Associate Department Chair and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science. His academic work bridges political science and business administration, focusing on the intersection of politics, economics, and management.

Primo's research spans multiple key areas:

• American politics and political institutions
• Campaign finance and disclosure laws
• Corporate political strategy and social responsibility
• Fiscal policy and government spending constraints
• Political bargaining and decision-making processes

His current work examines the effect of political ideology on firm management, the relationship between "brand activism" and political polarization, and whether business backgrounds improve legislative effectiveness. This reflects his commitment to multidisciplinary research connecting political science with economics and management.

Primo's publication record reveals consistent focus on institutional constraints on political behavior, particularly regarding campaign finance regulations, fiscal rules, and the impact of political institutions on economic outcomes. His work combines theoretical modeling with empirical analysis across multiple subfields of political science.

Scientific recognition:

• 2008 Alan Rosenthal Prize from the APSA Legislative Studies Section for "Rules and Restraint: Government Spending and the Design of Institutions"

Primo has testified before Congress multiple times on budget rules and campaign finance issues, with his research cited in a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court opinion. He founded the Politics and Markets Project at the University of Rochester in 2014 to foster education, research, and civil dialogue about business-government relationships. His op-eds have appeared in major publications including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, and he has been interviewed by media outlets such as Bloomberg and National Public Radio.