First thing first: tenure at last!
For those of you thinking “Wait, weren’t you an Associate Professor already?” or “What are you talking about? Didn’t you graduate ages ago? Shouldn’t you be retiring by now?”: the answer is yes, Yale and Columbia have looooong tenure clocks (I started in 2008) and a peculiar non-tenured Associate stage, and I have been dwelling in that limbo for some time. But no longer.
The other news is that, four weeks from now, I will join University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy as the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies.
This is exciting but bittersweet news, because I leave an amazing group of colleagues and students behind at Columbia University. There were many attractions to staying at Columbia, and it was a difficult decision to leave. But what U of C and Harris are building is simply too exciting an opportunity to pass up.
Last year, Chicago received the second largest gift in the university’s history, $100 million from The Thomas L. Pearson and The Pearson Family Members Foundation, to start The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. The Pearson Institute is going to have a large number of new senior and junior faculty. Besides me, the other inaugural hire is my good friend and collaborator Oeindrila Dube, from NYU, who will take a second chair.
The Institute will also host The Pearson Global Forum, a huge annual global forum devoted to the study and resolution of global conflicts. As Jackson Hole is to macroeconomic policy, the Global Forum aims to be to the policy and academic forum for global security.
This is all part of the Harris School’s scheme to become the best place to study the political economy of development. Last year, Jim Robinson joined from Harvard and Konstantin Sonin from Moscow’s New Economic School. Also working on security and development issues are Ethan Bueno de Mesquita and Roger Myerson. Austin Wright from Princeton is joining as an Assistant Professor. Next year there will undoubtedly be more names you know. In development more broadly there’s Michael Greenstone, Anjali Adukia, Ofer Malamud, and Alicia Menendez.
If I can continue the sales pitch to prospective students and hires: Harris is also an amazing place to study urban issues (it is home to the famed Crime Lab) and U.S. education, health, and labor markets. It has a incredibly strong group of labor economists and political economy scholars.
If you want to think about where to place the Harris School in the constellation of U.S. policy schools, as far as I can tell (so far) the best description is probably: the hard one. Harris believes in training undergraduates, master’s students, and PhDs in rigorous quantitative social science. I’m kind of amazed by what the students learn and can do. Dean Karlan at Yale (founder of IPA) is a graduate. People like me, Jim, Oeindrila, Ethan, and the exciting new hires to come are going to help push that in an international direction.
When you get $100 million, that also means you make a flashy video. So here is The Pearson Institute:
152 Responses
Next year there will undoubtedly be more names you know. In development more broadly there’s Michael Greenstone, Anjali Adukia, Ofer Malamud, and Alicia Menendez.
golu dolls
golu dolls
The other news is that, four weeks from now, I will join University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy as the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies.
golu dolls
golu dolls
Congratulations on a promotion well-deserved. Perhaps my recent reading of The Bottom Billion has heavily influenced me, but orderliness in a society seems to be a prerequisite to development.
Culture, perhaps especially religious cultural beliefs, are probably the most under-studied part of development (importance / studies) — tho such studies would likely show the superiority of Christianity and many development folk are mildly or strongly hostile to Christians. The Obama-Clinton enabling of Islamic genocide against Christians is unlikely to be well studied in the near future.
A bit ironic to study Global Security in the US city with the most murders — the most insecure Big City in the US.
Very Very glad you’re getting more recognition for mostly good work.
Congrats Chris, trust you won’t stop blogging?
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @freakonometrics: “Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago” https://t.co/2pbB2rPFKB congrats @cblatts
Congratulations, Chris! :)
“Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago” https://t.co/2pbB2rPFKB congrats @cblatts
RT @BeckerFriedman: Very excited to follow the work of @cblatts at @PearsonInst. https://t.co/N9ehO0hDhP
RT @BeckerFriedman: Very excited to follow the work of @cblatts at @PearsonInst. https://t.co/N9ehO0hDhP
Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago https://t.co/NDCI2wSWjZ
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts Congrats!
Congratulations.
Though I must say that after watching that video I feel quite dismayed. The pitch simplifies global conflict to a technical problem that if only we had more rigerous quantitative analysis, could be solved. As if countless other US public policy schools don’t subscribe to the same “innovative” thinking. Not once, if my one-watch observation is correct, was the word democracy used, or individual political and economic rights for those affected/the poor.
100 million USD sure sounds like a good investment for more publications that distract from what I think is the gravest problem: poor countries oppressing the majority of their poor population at the expense of propping up a minority elite, and a development audience fixated on material development, which distracts from discussions of rights and keeps thugs in power; all this with the tacit support of rich countries that can’t stand by their values and convictions because of the messy realities of geopolitics.
But I’m sure this time is different and we’ll really come up with the solutions to end global conflict. More skills training! Dialogue! Building economic foundations! Growing businesses! More study!
How about simply respecting the rights of the poor, interpreted in the broadest sense possible.
Sincerely,
Long-time Canadian reader
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congratulations, Chris. Well-deserved.
a non twitter congratulation from a long term reader
RT @tetteresearch: シカゴ大のハリス公共政策大学院が開発経済学の中の政治経済研究者陣をJ Robinsonの引抜きを始めとしてアグレッシブに強化しているという話。https://t.co/Vlyl7QgWRo
RT @viewfromthecave: Congrats to @cblatts on his move to the University of Chicago. https://t.co/oSdKNWrheL
Congrats to @cblatts on his move to the University of Chicago. https://t.co/oSdKNWrheL
Cool! Chris Blattman blogs about his exciting new move to @ChicagoHarris Pearson Institute: https://t.co/e1Dq0rh9aW https://t.co/N6j1ncd2qz
RT @MarkKoyama: Really exciting developments at the @ChicagoHarris first James Robinson now @cblatts https://t.co/WIkICS8bJZ
RT @BeckerFriedman: Very excited to follow the work of @cblatts at @PearsonInst. https://t.co/N9ehO0hDhP
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Very excited to follow the work of @cblatts at @PearsonInst. https://t.co/N9ehO0hDhP
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congrats! The students were already amazing and now they will be even more so.
@cblatts Welcome to the @ChicagoHarris family! There was little focus on internatl policy when I graduated (2012), but glad to see +changes!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @tetteresearch: シカゴ大のハリス公共政策大学院が開発経済学の中の政治経済研究者陣をJ Robinsonの引抜きを始めとしてアグレッシブに強化しているという話。https://t.co/Vlyl7QgWRo
@SlaterPolitics @abbey_st @cblatts oh right, Dan did his rebels/coup piece, Chris did the later 2009 APSR, Abbey did disst MS I think
RT @tetteresearch: シカゴ大のハリス公共政策大学院が開発経済学の中の政治経済研究者陣をJ Robinsonの引抜きを始めとしてアグレッシブに強化しているという話。https://t.co/Vlyl7QgWRo
RT @tetteresearch: シカゴ大のハリス公共政策大学院が開発経済学の中の政治経済研究者陣をJ Robinsonの引抜きを始めとしてアグレッシブに強化しているという話。https://t.co/Vlyl7QgWRo
@cblatts Congrats! Well deserved!
Wow! Huge Congratulations @cblatts…and the lucky students of UChicago!
RT @tetteresearch: シカゴ大のハリス公共政策大学院が開発経済学の中の政治経済研究者陣をJ Robinsonの引抜きを始めとしてアグレッシブに強化しているという話。https://t.co/Vlyl7QgWRo
RT @tetteresearch: シカゴ大のハリス公共政策大学院が開発経済学の中の政治経済研究者陣をJ Robinsonの引抜きを始めとしてアグレッシブに強化しているという話。https://t.co/Vlyl7QgWRo
シカゴ大のハリス公共政策大学院が開発経済学の中の政治経済研究者陣をJ Robinsonの引抜きを始めとしてアグレッシブに強化しているという話。https://t.co/Vlyl7QgWRo
Holy APSA flashback, Blattman! I met all 3 of you for the 1st time when we were on the same panel in 2008 @abbey_st @cblatts @pstanpolitics
RT @MarkKoyama: Really exciting developments at the @ChicagoHarris first James Robinson now @cblatts https://t.co/WIkICS8bJZ
Congrats to @cblatts: https://t.co/UDMsC05TUP
Congrats prof @cblatts sure thing you’ll be missed @ColumbiaSIPA. It was a pleasure to join ur class in 2013!
https://t.co/jZsud0NYR6
@cblatts congratulations!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @MarkKoyama: Really exciting developments at the @ChicagoHarris first James Robinson now @cblatts https://t.co/WIkICS8bJZ
@cblatts congratulations, really well deserved! and just as i was thinking of an MA application to columbia
@andrewflowers great addition by u of c https://t.co/WcWg79MNC1
@cblatts your future polisci colleagues are also quite impressive @pstanpolitics @SlaterPolitics https://t.co/N1pqNR1pBT
@cblatts Congrats Chris! Is your Mrs staying at IRC?
Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago https://t.co/tFN8sOGun0
@cblatts congrats Chris!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Wow. Congratulations @cblatts!!! @ChicagoHarris
RT @MarkKoyama: Really exciting developments at the @ChicagoHarris first James Robinson now @cblatts https://t.co/WIkICS8bJZ
RT @MarkKoyama: Really exciting developments at the @ChicagoHarris first James Robinson now @cblatts https://t.co/WIkICS8bJZ
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts congratulations!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congrats!
RT @MarkKoyama: Really exciting developments at the @ChicagoHarris first James Robinson now @cblatts https://t.co/WIkICS8bJZ
Really exciting developments at the @ChicagoHarris first James Robinson now @cblatts https://t.co/WIkICS8bJZ
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congrats, Chris! And congrats to Oendrila, too!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Congratulations!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Nice!!!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @tylercowen @ChicagoHarris Congrats!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris congratulations!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago https://t.co/jsUlWaAFK8
I graduated there with a BA in 2015, and decided to pursue my MPP elsewhere. At the time UChicago had a relatively weak development program, and there was only one professor who taught an undergrad course on ipe afaik. What a difference 2 academic years make! Might have changed my decision if I had known, but congrats.
RT @dgomezco: UChicago Harris keeps attracting top talent: Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago – Chris Blattman https://t.co…
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Congratulations. I guess. The only reliable advice you can give someone who’s moving up in a new environment is to get ready to duck. But I’m sure you’ll do well there.
Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago: First thing first: tenure at last! For those of you thinkin… https://t.co/teRKA3kNrd
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris CONGRATS!! Great news!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris The UChicago community is excited to have you join us soon!
Welcome! // RT @cblatts: Tenure! And … I’m moving to @ChicagoHarris. https://t.co/O8I4KB9gtk
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago https://t.co/kZ1GBFTwOC #uchicago @ChicagoHarris
RT @dandrezner: Whoa, congrats to @cblatts!! https://t.co/85qBitAXPD
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @dandrezner: Whoa, congrats to @cblatts!! https://t.co/85qBitAXPD
RT @dandrezner: Whoa, congrats to @cblatts!! https://t.co/85qBitAXPD
Whoa, congrats to @cblatts!! https://t.co/85qBitAXPD
@cblatts Congrats!
UChicago Harris keeps attracting top talent: Tenure! And… a move to the University of Chicago – Chris Blattman https://t.co/bnURmOy9xE
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris congrats to you both!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congratulations! Remember there are direct flights to DC from Chiucago too!
Amazing! Congrats Chris!!!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Ah, sucks that I’ve graduated from @UChicago, but SO glad Im part of the @innovcorps. Look fwd to working with you!
Congrats – a great group indeed, and rigor in public policy training is absolutely needed.
@cblatts Congratulations! Would’ve loved to have taken a class with you, pretty bummed that I’m not at UChicago anymore
Congrats, Chris. In addition to a superb university, Chicago’s a great city. Enjoy.
Fijaos lo q es sacar una cátedra en USA, Enhorabuena @cblatts https://t.co/4j9j2YPZKt
@cblatts great news for @ChicagoHarris! Hope to see you in NYC this summer.
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris congratulations! This is amazing news.
@cblatts Awesome — congrats, Chris.
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
“@cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/uvGam8t63H @ChicagoHarris”
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts Congratulations. Lucky them.
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts congrats!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts Congrats Chris. Well deserved. Best of Luck
@cblatts Congrats Chris! It is a big loss for NYC (especially if you could Oeindrila too!). I wish you all the best in Chicago.
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Hongera Chris!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Huge congrats, Chris!
When do you move to Chi-town? I’ll be there in October for the marathon. Would love to see you!
@cblatts congrats!
Looks like U of Chicago’s policy school is building quite the program, with @cblatts and others: https://t.co/majz1uR45q
@cblatts congrats, great News!
@cblatts Congrats!
@cblatts congrats! Great news
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts Congratulations!
@cblatts Congrats! Welcome to the Midwest!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congrats!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congratulations!
Congrats, @cblatts! Hope to see you in Bogotá soon.
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris congrats!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris congrats and welcome to Chicago!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congrats Chris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts Congratulations!! Such great news for @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris brilliant Chris! Congrats on confirmation
@cblatts Congratulations on both!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congratulations! Exciting times at Harris – leave some social science for the rest of us.
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
Congrats! Well deserved for sure!
@cblatts I for one am happy to slightly lower my chances of misspelling “Colombia” in future writing. (And Chicago’s great)
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congrats! From a #uchicago alum.
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris exciting times! Congrats, well deserved!
@cblatts @ChicagoHarris Congratulations! It’s an incredibly exciting time at Harris.
@cblatts one question: Harris’s scheme? Plan sounds better, doesn’t it? Congrats again.
Very exciting news, congratulations @cblatts!!
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
RT @cblatts: Tenure! And… I’m moving to University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy: https://t.co/sAKgbAJDSQ @ChicagoHarris
@cblatts Congratulations!!!