Gerard Padro

Gerard Padro is a Professor of Economics and Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Yale University. He also directs the Leitner Program in International and Comparative Political Economy. His research focuses on the intersection of politics and economics as barriers to development, particularly civil conflict and non-democratic regimes. Padro holds a Ph.D. from MIT (2005), an M.A. from the London School of Economics (2001), and a B.A. from Universitat Pompeu Fabra (2000).

He serves as a Faculty Affiliate at the Economic Growth Center, Research Fellow at CEPR and BREAD, and Research Associate at NBER. His editorial roles include Associate Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Co-Editor of the Journal of Development Economics. Padro's work has been published in top journals like the American Economic Review and Review of Economic Studies, examining topics such as Chinese local governance, institutional incentives, and development pathways.

His research emphasizes methodological rigor, applying game theory and experimental methods to understand political and economic dynamics in developing nations. Current projects explore foreign influence strategies, public opinion manipulation, and the cultural impacts of democratic institutions in China.