Economics, Development & Public Finance

The Schar School’s research and teaching focuses on problems afflicting countries across the world, the institutional settings within which these problems arise, and the solutions offered by governments, nongovernmental organizations, multinational organizations, and the private sector. In addition to focusing on economic development and governance structures within countries, we explore political and economic relations between countries as well as the ways entrepreneurship interacts with globalization. Economics and public finance research examines the impact of public sector activities on the economic behavior of individuals, firms, nonprofit organizations, and markets. The processes and mechanisms of finance can influence economic efficiency, and this research is interested in such relationships. Public finance asks how governments raise revenue through taxes and borrowing, and how they make decisions about disbursing those funds. The ways that governments and public institutions plan, control, and account for such activities have impacts across sectors, as do the design and administration of all of these functions.

Interested in interviewing one of our experts? Contact Communications Manager Buzz McClain at bmcclai2@gmu.edu or 703-993-9603.

  • Photo of Mariely Lopez-Santana

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Comparative Politics, Europe, Federalism/State and Local Government, Qualitative Methods, Social Welfare Policy, Comparative Welfare States, European Union, Governance
  • A woman stands outside while smiling

    Associate Professor

    Thema Monroe-White is an Associate Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government.
  • Portrait of Steven Pearlstein

    Robinson Professor of Public Affairs

    Areas of Research: Economic Principles, Political Economy, Economic Policy, Morality of Modern Capitalism
  • Photo of Anh Pham

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Taxation, Public Economics, Development Economics
  • Photo of Kenneth A. Reinert

    Professor of Public Policy; Director, Global Commerce and Policy Program

    Areas of Research: Economic Development, Economic Policy, International Development, International Economics, Latin America, Microeconomics, Political Economy, Trade Policy, Applied Trade Policy Analysis, Globalization, Basic Goods Provision
  • Photo of Hilton L. Root

    Professor of Public Policy

    Areas of Research: China, Complex Systems, Economic History, International Economic Development, International Economic Policy, International Relations, Institutions, Political Economy, South Asia U.S. Global Engagement
  • Photo of Laurie Schintler

    Associate Professor of Public Policy; Director, Data and Technology Research Initiatives, Center for Regional Analysis

    Areas of Research: Gender, Quantitative Methods, Regional Development, Science and Technology Policy, Transportation Policy, Social Media, “Big Data,” Information Technology
  • Photo of Louise I. Shelley

    Omer L. and Nancy Hirst Professor of Public Policy, University Professor; Director, Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center

    Areas of Research: Corruption, Human Trafficking, Illicit Trade, International Security, Soviet Successor States, Terrorism, Transnational Crime
  • J.P. Singh smiling for the camera

    Distinguished University Professor

    Areas of Research: Global Political Economy, Cultural Economics, Global Governance and Development, Socio-Economic Impact of Information Technologies, Global Diplomacy and Deliberations
  • Photo of Sita Nataraj Slavov

    Professor of Public Policy

    Areas of Research: Economic Policy, Microeconomics, Economics of Aging, Political Economy, Public Finance, Quantitative Methods