The UC Berkeley campus at dusk.

Research

Research focus areas

Capitalism and Democracy

Extreme wealth concentration and the entrenchment of vested interests pose serious threats to democratic rule and shared prosperity. BESI’s research explores structural reforms to address these dangers.

Climate Change and Green Industrial Strategy

Under the right conditions, business and government collaboration can accelerate decarbonization by creating and scaling clean tech markets. We support the theoretical, empirical, and practical study of green industrial strategy through collaborations between scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

Technology and Society

For all its benefits, tech industry disruption has a pattern of concentrating economic power and wealth, sowing division, and undermining human autonomy and civic solidarity. Our research investigates these concerning dynamics and explores possible responses.

Political Economy of California

California is a land of extremes: A dynamic economy coexists with high inequality and poverty. Our state exemplifies America’s biggest strengths — and its biggest challenges. BESI’s research and programming promote ideas for better governance and shared prosperity in the Golden State.

Finance and Democracy

The deregulation of the financial system has generated a range of anti-democratic consequences. The Berkeley Program on Finance and Democracy studies how finance can be made more compatible with democratic governance.