Christopher Tilly

Christopher Tilly is a Professor of Urban Planning and Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), affiliated with the Luskin School of Public Affairs. His research focuses on labor markets, workplace inequality, and comparative studies of labor systems across countries, particularly in Latin America and the United States. Tilly holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Urban Studies and Planning from MIT and a B.A. in Biochemistry from Harvard College. He has over 30 years of academic and advocacy experience, including 20 years as coeditor of Dollars and Sense, a popular economics magazine, and roles in community organizing and labor advocacy.

His research interests include analyzing how institutions and markets shape labor outcomes, with emphasis on part-time work, gender/racial disparities, and policy-driven solutions. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Mexico and other countries, exploring informal work resistance, domestic worker movements, and transnational organizing strategies. Tilly has advised community organizations, unions, and policymakers, emphasizing practical applications of his academic work.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Economics and Urban Studies and Planning, MIT
  • B.A., Biochemistry, Harvard College
• Key Research Themes:
  • Bad job transformation and labor standards
  • Informal work dynamics and resistance
  • Comparative labor systems (Mexico, US, and global South)
  • Policy interventions for workplace equity
• Awards:
  • William G. Bowen Award (2018) for Where Bad Jobs Are Better
  • ASA Labor and Labor Movements Section Best Book Award (2019)
  • Latin American Studies Association Social Sciences Essay Award (2015)
• Advising & Grants:
  • Extensive collaborations with labor unions, NGOs, and policymakers
  • Former Board Chair of Grassroots International (1991–2003)

Tilly’s work bridges academic rigor and real-world impact, with publications in top journals such as Bulletin of Latin American Research and International Journal of Comparative Sociology. His current projects examine global labor trends and policy alternatives for equitable work systems.