Paul Pierson
Director and Research Lead, Capitalism & Democracy
Building a more inclusive political economy
Healthy democracies and healthy economies are mutually sustaining. Gridlocked policymaking and extreme wealth concentration threaten both.
The Berkeley Economy & Society Initiative is a research center at UC Berkeley that connects rigorous political economy scholarship with concrete policy recommendations to promote robust democracy, effective governance, and durable, broad-based prosperity.
We support multiple programs that investigate major political challenges and opportunities facing wealthy nations today. Across our research, we recognize the dangers that concentrated economic and political power and ineffective governance create for a healthy political system and sound public policy.
Policy failures result from political failures. We go beyond making policy recommendations to address root causes: struggling political institutions. Our work aims to reinvigorate democratic institutions on the path towards a more inclusive political economy.
Our mission
Informing policy
Through our research, grants, events, and other activities, BESI aims to promote the conditions that give rise to genuine, widespread, and sustainable prosperity. We support rigorous, original, and above all, practical political economy research that informs and influences public policy.
Reframing knowledge
In the spirit of forging collaborations across fields, BESI invites accomplished scholars from a variety of disciplines to share their research with our audiences. We maintain a regular cadence of book talks, lectures, panel discussions, and other events that stimulate productive conversations and improve our collective scholarship.
Advancing the field
We proudly support the Designated Emphasis (DE) in Political Economy at UC Berkeley, which facilitates graduate student participation in vital discussions outside their home disciplines and enables cutting edge research. BESI supports the DE through stipends and grants for research and conferences for students who participate in the program.
Ideas in action
Our work aims to promote the conditions that give rise to genuine, widespread, and sustainable prosperity. Check out the latest BESI news to see how our research, events and other activities are contributing to wider understanding and policymaking on critical issues.
Our leadership
Our research leads are at the forefront of new directions in political economy scholarship. BESI’s staff, affiliated faculty, graduate student researchers, and steering committee help make our activities possible.
Jonas Meckling
Research Lead, Climate
Marion Fourcade
Research Lead, Technology
Brian Judge
Research Director, Berkeley Program on Finance and Democracy
Our partners
In the spirit of forging collaboration and fostering dialogue, we maintain close relationships with institutions and programs who share our research priorities.
Contact us.
For questions regarding our events, research, or programs, please complete this form and a member of our team will be in touch.
