Christopher Witko

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    Financialization is more rapid when interested sectors are more active in politics and unions and the Democratic Party are weaker.

Financialization is more rapid when interested sectors are more active in politics and unions and the Democratic Party are weaker.

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The past three decades have seen a rapid increase in the financialization of the American economy, with the financial sector growing in importance to the economy. In new research, Christopher Witko finds that this growth in financialization was not a ‘natural’ economic development, but a consequence of public policy choices that occur when large firms in the FIRE (finance, insurance […]

January 23rd, 2015|Christopher Witko, Economy, Elections and party politics across the US|0 Comments|
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    In times of growth, states with Democratic governments are more able to stimulate employment than those with conservative ones.

In times of growth, states with Democratic governments are more able to stimulate employment than those with conservative ones.

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In the years following the Great Recession, unemployment rates have varied markedly across U.S. states. While much of this is down to national trends, how do state politics influence unemployment levels? In new research, Christopher Witko and Nate Kelly find that while in recessions, both Republican and Democratic governments have little effect on unemployment rates, during times of increasing […]

November 20th, 2014|Christopher Witko, Economy, Elections and party politics across the US, Nathan J. Kelly, Urban, rural and regional policies|0 Comments|
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    Congressional gridlock helps to make income inequality worse

Congressional gridlock helps to make income inequality worse

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Last December, President Obama warned of ‘dangerous and growing inequality’ in America, reflecting growing concerns that inequality is increasing, especially in relation to other countries. Peter K. Enns, Nathan J. Kelly, Jana Morgan, Thomas Volscho and Christopher Witko investigate the role of what they argue is a major contributing factor to rising inequality: the tendency for the current political and economic conditions […]

April 10th, 2014|Christopher Witko, Economy, Elections and party politics across the US, Jana Morgan, Nathan J. Kelly, Peter Enns, Thomas Volscho|3 Comments|
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Democrats, those with low income, and those concerned with inequality are likely to support “Robin Hood” tax policies

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As income inequality has grown in the U.S., so too have movements to increase taxes on the wealthy, such as the addition of the “Buffet Rule” to President Obama’s tax plan. But what drives support for these so-called “Robin Hood” tax initiatives? Using data taken from Proposition 1098, a citizen initiative to impose an income tax on the wealthy, Christopher […]

December 10th, 2013|Christopher Witko, Democracy and culture, Economy|0 Comments|
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