Main navigation
- Programs
- Subjects
- Universities
- Destinations
- Advice
The Economics and Political Science Departments collaborate to provide a Ph.D. specialization in Political Economics and Public Choice, operating under the combined framework of UCI's Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences and the Center for the Study of Democracy. This program is open to students from either field.
Faculty overseeing this concentration feature two National Academy of Science members, a former President of the Public Choice Society, and previous Chairs of UCI's Economics Department. Notable scholars Bernard Grofman, Marek Kaminski, and Carole Uhlaner actively research political economy, public choice, and game theory. The participating faculty bring diverse viewpoints yet share a dedication to evidence-based research, theoretical development, and the interdisciplinary nature of this field bridging political science and economics. Their work employs quantitative and mathematical approaches to analyze political systems and decision-making. The team also includes six economists—Linda Cohen, Amihai Glazer, Michelle Garfinkel, Michael McBride, Stergios Skaperdas, and Donald Saari—along with philosopher Brian Skyrms.