My dissertation examines the relationship between economic segregation and local politics in U.S. cities and towns. In particular, I analyze how changing levels of economic segregation structure local political behavior and representation of different economic groups. I also research how certain housing policies may shape patterns of economic segregation. My specific projects are listed below: 

Income Segregation and the Provision of Local Public Goods (with Peter Bucchianeri) 

How does spatial segregation shape government spending in U.S. cities and towns? While recent work has explored the role of racial segregation in the provision of public goods, in this paper, we extend this analysis to include economic segregation as well. To do so, we construct a measure of city-level economic segregation -- which confirms that income segregation has increased in recent decades -- and use it to analyze how the spatial isolation of high- and low-income residents influences local political behavior and attitudes, as well as patterns of local government spending across policy areas. 

Low Income Housing, Partisanship, and Spatial Redistribution 

Does the party of the governor shape how states distribute affordable housing? With economic segregation on the rise in U.S. cities and towns, and with Democrats supporting policies that counteract inequality, I examine whether Democratic administrations are more likely to spatially distribute Low Income Housing Tax Credits as a way to counteract spatial inequality.