Charles Hankla

Charles R. Hankla is a Professor of Political Science at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. He serves as Director of the International Center for Public Policy (ICePP) and Associate Director of the Public Finance Research Cluster (PFRC). His expertise lies in comparative political economy, fiscal decentralization, and public finance. He holds a Ph.D. from Emory University (2005), an M.A. from the London School of Economics (1999), and a BSFS from Georgetown University (1997).

Dr. Hankla leads a World Bank project in Mozambique ($1.2M) focusing on fiscal decentralization reforms and has consulted for the UNDP, U.S. State Department, USAID, and G20. His research examines institutional impacts on fiscal policy, trade, and industrial strategies in developing nations. He has published in top journals like the American Political Science Review and authored/co-authored books on fiscal federalism and industrial policy.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. Political Science, Emory University (2005)
  • M.A. Political Science, London School of Economics (1999)
  • BSFS, Georgetown University (1997)

His research interests emphasize political institutions’ role in fiscal governance, with recent work focusing on gender norms in Indian elections, trade policy in authoritarian regimes, and decentralization dynamics. Notable grants include NSF-funded experiments in India and an IGC grant for survey work in Bihar. He has received awards for mentoring and scholarship, including the Elinor Ostrom Award (2022) and Deil Wright Award (2011).

Dr. Hankla co-directs major research initiatives, including the Egyptian Decentralization Initiative (USAID-funded), and provides policy training globally. He is a frequent media commentator on economic politics, with over 650,000 reads on The Conversation and appearances on BBC, CBC, and others. Fluent in French and with Hindi reading skills, he bridges academic and policy communities through ICePP’s global engagements.