Konstantin Sonin

Konstantin Sonin is the John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. His research focuses on political economics, conflict analysis, and authoritarian regimes. He earned an MSc and PhD in mathematics from Moscow State University and an MA in economics from the New Economic School (NES). Previously, he served as faculty and vice-president at NES and HSE University in Moscow, and held visiting roles at institutions including Northwestern University's Kellogg School.

Education:

• MSc and PhD in Mathematics, Moscow State University
• MA in Economics, New Economic School (NES)

Research interests span political economy frameworks, electoral systems in non-democracies, and conflict dynamics. His work bridges economics and political science, analyzing topics like electoral fraud, authoritarian governance, and social mobility's impact on democratic stability.

Notable contributions include groundbreaking studies on Russian electoral fraud and coalition formation strategies in authoritarian regimes. His op-eds and blog writings address contemporary Russian political issues, leading to his inclusion on Russia's federal wanted list since 2023 for documenting Bucha atrocities.

Labs/Teams: Active in cross-disciplinary research initiatives on conflict and development economics at the Harris School. Collaborates internationally with institutions like Harvard University's Davis Center and the Institute for Advanced Study.