Manuel P. Teodoro

Manuel P. Teodoro is a Professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research explores the intersection of politics, public policy, and public management with emphases on U.S. environmental policy, utility management, and bureaucratic decision-making. His influential works include the books 'The Profits of Distrust' examining the bottled water industry's relationship with democratic trust, and 'Bureaucratic Ambition' analyzing administrative innovation.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science & Public Policy, University of Michigan
• M.P.A. in Public Administration, Cornell University
• B.A. in Political Science, Seattle University

Teodoro's research focuses on environmental justice, utility rate equity, and the political economy of public services. His recent work investigates the connections between infrastructure failures, commercial water markets, and democratic legitimacy. Fieldwork with governments and water sector leaders informs his applied research on policy implementation.

Publications consistently address systemic governance challenges through environmental, economic, and institutional lenses, with recent emphasis on affordability metrics and utility performance benchmarking.

He teaches courses on U.S. Environmental Politics (PA 366), Policy Making Process (PA 874), and leads workshops for graduate students. His research group collaborates with water utilities nationwide to develop practical policy solutions.