Megumi Naoi

Megumi Naoi is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She specializes in international and comparative political economy, with a regional focus on East Asia, particularly Japan. Her work bridges trade policy, redistribution dynamics, and inequality analysis. Naoi serves on the editorial boards of the International Organization and Journal of Politics, and is an associate editor of the Japanese Journal of Political Science.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from Columbia University (2006). Her research explores legislative coalition-building for free trade, consumer backlash against globalization, and cross-border investment influenced by political tensions. Notable publications include Building Legislative Coalitions for Free Trade in Asia (Cambridge UP, 2015), which received an honorable mention for the William Riker Award.

Current research projects involve collaborative work with Japan's Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (REITI) on Japanese firms and economic security. She also investigates how geopolitical tensions impact foreign direct investment patterns and consumer behavior in global markets.

Naoi's work has appeared in top journals like the American Political Science Review, International Studies Quarterly, and Comparative Political Studies. Her interdisciplinary approach combines quantitative analysis with institutional case studies, focusing on policy implementation and societal reactions to economic globalization.