Patrick R. Fitzsimmons

Patrick R. Fitzsimmons is affiliated with the Department of Economics at George Mason University, where he conducts research in economic history and political economy, with a focus on ancient Mediterranean societies, state formation, and the long-term impacts of technology and conflict.

His research interests center on economic history, political fragmentation, ancient warfare, and institutional development. He explores how disruptive technologies like iron metallurgy reshaped elite power and political structures in antiquity, and investigates correlates of peace and violence in ancient civilizations. His work employs empirical and econometric methods to analyze historical patterns in state formation and inequality.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in long-term political and economic dynamics in ancient societies, combining insights from economics, history, and archaeology. He frequently studies pre-modern conflict, state fragmentation, and the role of institutions in shaping development trajectories.

• Blood and Iron: Political Fragmentation in the Ancient Eastern Mediterranean (2024)
• Did The Great Levelling Begin After 1921? (2023)
• The Heterogeneous Effects of Historical Mission Exposure and Indigenous Development (2025)
• Peace and its Correlates in the Ancient World (2025)

Patrick R. Fitzsimmons has collaborated with scholars such as Jordan Adamson and Vincent Geloso on topics spanning ancient conflict and modern inequality. While no formal advising or grant information is available in the provided text, his active publication record in working paper series suggests ongoing research engagement and scholarly contribution within the economics discipline at George Mason University.