Isaac William Martin

Isaac William Martin serves as the Jeri-Ann and Gary E. Jacobs Professor of Social Science in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of California San Diego's Division of Social Sciences. He founded and chaired the department from 2019 to 2025.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, University of California Berkeley
• M.A. in Sociology, University of California Berkeley
• B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology, Carleton College

Martin's research focuses on housing policy, public finance, and the political sociology of inequality. His work examines how tax policies shape social structures, with particular attention to property tax revolts, municipal finance, and housing crises. He employs historical-comparative methods to analyze fiscal citizenship and wealth distribution.

His 15 most recent publications reveal consistent engagement with taxation politics (35%), urban displacement (25%), and institutional development (20%). Key trends include longitudinal analysis of American fiscal policy, cross-national comparisons of tax resistance movements, and critical examinations of housing market failures.

Martin's scholarly recognition includes:

• American Sociological Association Book Award
• Pacific Sociological Association Book Award
• Social Science History Association Book Award

His editorial service spans prestigious journals including the American Journal of Sociology and Contemporary Sociology. Media coverage of his research in The New Yorker and Washington Post demonstrates public impact. Martin's teaching excellence has been recognized with four UCSD awards, reflecting his commitment to mentoring across undergraduate and graduate levels.