Tine Paulsen

Tine Paulsen is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Southern California (USC), concurrently serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Zurich’s Department of Political Science. Her research focuses on the intersection of comparative politics and political economy, examining how formal political institutions influence representation, economic policies, and citizen welfare, with a regional emphasis on Western Europe and North America.

She holds a Ph.D. in Politics from New York University (2022), an M.Phil. in Politics from the University of Oxford (2016), and a B.A. in Political Science from New York University Abu Dhabi (2014). Her work combines advanced statistical methods with archival research, leveraging historical data from primary sources.

Paulsen’s research explores the effects of electoral reforms on local governance, national politics, and citizen welfare, particularly in early 20th-century Scandinavia. Her book project analyzes how national politicians designed local electoral systems to extend their political reach while empowering local actors aligned with national parties. This work has been recognized with the Ernst B. Haas Award for best dissertation in European Politics and Society (APSA, 2022).

Her publications appear in top journals such as the American Political Science Review, Political Analysis, and Electoral Studies. She co-organizes the Virtual Workshop in Historical Political Economy (VWHPE) and serves on academic committees including the APSA European Politics and Society Section Board.