Professor Penn's areas of specialization are social choice theory, institutional organization and political economy. She is particularly interested in the role that political institutions play in sparking or mitigating conflict between groups. Some of her past research has focused on the emergence of cooperation between individuals and groups with competing interests in dynamic settings. Although most of her work has been theoretic, other projects have addressed topics relating to local and state governance, including municipal secession and the initiative in California. Recent publications: "The Banks set in infinite spaces" and "Alternate definitions of the uncovered set, and their implications," both forthcoming in Social Choice and Welfare.