Accepting Postgraduate Research Students

PhD projects

The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of topics Dr Negri would be happy to supervise. Dr Negri is also open to discussing other ideas related to Political Economics and questions in metascience.

Projects can be theoretical, empirical, or experimental — or combine these approaches.

1. The Political Economy of Immigration
Immigration has become one of the most talked-about political issues of the last decade. This project explores how immigration shapes politics and society: How do voters react to changes in immigration levels? How do politicians use immigration in their campaigns and policies? And how do these dynamics influence election results? You could use theoretical modelling, survey data, experiments, or real-world policy changes to study these questions.

2. How Attitudes Form and Change
Why do people hold the beliefs they do? Where do attitudes come from, and can they change over time? Possible approaches include studying the impact of information campaigns, social networks, or personal experiences on people’s views—and whether these translate into action.

3. The Rise of Populism
In many countries, populist parties have gained ground in recent years. What economic and social forces drive this? Can we explain the rise of populism with standard models of voting and political competition? This project investigates the conditions under which populist parties emerge, thrive, or decline, and the strategic incentives they face when competing for power.

4. Electoral Systems and Political Parties
Elections do not happen in a vacuum—they follow specific rules that shape the political landscape. This project looks at how electoral systems (e.g., proportional representation vs. first-past-the-post) influence the strategies of political parties, the choices of voters, and the diversity of political competition. You could explore historical reforms, cross-country comparisons, or theoretical modelling of different systems.

5. Why People Participate in Politics (and Why They Don’t)
What makes some people vote while others stay home? Why do some engage in protests, campaigns, or political discussions, while others avoid politics altogether? This project examines the causes and consequences of political participation—ranging from socioeconomic factors to institutional design—and how participation shapes policy outcomes.

6. Understanding Competitive Selection Processes
Many important opportunities in life are decided through competitive selection—awarding a research grant, hiring for a job, accepting a paper for a conference, or selecting a student for a scholarship. This project studies how these processes (should) work in practice: What criteria do decision-makers use? Are they fair, efficient, or biased? And how do the rules of the competition shape the quality and diversity of those selected?