Research

Selected publications:

Papers:

  • Using gender to choose: voter decision-making in low-information elections, with Lotte Hargrave in Journal of European Public Policy

https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2026.2732010

  • When Bureaucrats Deviate: Mission Motivation, Autonomy, and Policy Implementation in Thai District Governance, with Dan Honig in Governance

https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.70136

  • Policymakers’ Preferences Over Public-Private Modes of Service Delivery and Credit-Claiming: Experimental Evidence, with Paolo Belardinelli and Nathan Lee in Public Administration 
  • Does political corruption reduce pro-social behavior by bureaucrats? Lab experimental evidence from Bangladesh, with Jan-Hinrik Meyer-Sahling, Kim Sass Mikkelsen, Christian Schuster, Kazi Maruful Islam and Taiabur Rahman in Governance 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gove.12900

  • The Distributive Politics of Privately Financed Infrastructure Agreements in Governance

http://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12824

  • Accountability and Corruption Displacement: Evidence from Italy in Journal of Public Policy

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0143814X22000113

  • Electoral Rules, Women’s Representation and the Qualification of Politicians, with Paola Profeta, in Comparative Political Studies

https://doi.org/10.1177/00104140211047414

  • Hybrid Governance and the Attribution of Political Responsibility: Experimental Evidence from the United States, with Paolo Belardinelli and Anthony Bertelli, in Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory

https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muab014

  • The Political Cost of Public-Private Partnerships: Theory and Evidence from Colombian Infrastructure Development, with Anthony Bertelli and Camila Angulo Amaya, in Governance

https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12443

Books:

  • Partnership Communities: Political Accountability and the Success of Infrastructure Development Around the World, with Anthony Bertelli, Michele Castiglioni and Paolo Belardinelli, Cambridge University Press, Elements Series

https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/partnership-communities/45AF9BB0E7DEFD8AF6400152097094B6

Book chapters:

  • New Frontiers in the Politics of Public-Private Partnerships, with Anthony Bertelli in Research Agenda for Public-Private Partnerships and the Governance of Infrastructure: New Frontiers and Themes in a Contested World edited by Carsten Greve and Graeme Hodge, Edward Elgar Publishing

https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781839105876/9781839105876.00014.xml

Work in progress:

Papers:

  • Interbranch Impartiality, with Vincenza Falletti and Tony Bertelli

Abstract:

We examine how impartiality is maintained where courts, executives, and public administration interact continuously rather than operating in isolation. We argue that impartiality should not be treated as a byproduct of structural insulation, but as a relational practice sustained by institutional trust under conditions of interdependence. Drawing on interviews and a roundtable with senior judicial and civil‑service figures in the United Kingdom, we explain that cooperation among branches relies on a form of trust that enables dependence without subordination and is sustained through role awareness, mutual restraint, and professional integrity. We develop a tripartite conception of interbranch impartiality and then implement a supervised machine‑learning workflow on 170 National Audit Office reports (2010–2025) to detect how each component appears. Conditional analyses reveal that increases in public support for the incumbent government are associated with declines in functional and relational evidence, whereas the procedural face remains largely immune to government support. Combining theory development with a mixed-method empirical design, we conclude that interbranch impartiality is a fragile equilibrium in which independence prevents domination, trust enables cooperation, and procedures undergird fair governance.

All working papers are available upon request.

Policy papers:

  • Using Microdata for Strategic Human Resource Management and Fiscal Planning in the Public Sector, with Daniel Ortega Nieto and Rafael Alves de Albuquerque Tavares. For the World Bank book: ‘Government Analytics: Leveraging Data to Strengthen Public Administration’ edited by Daniel Rogger and Christian Schuster
  • Government Analytics Using Data on Task and Project Completion, with Daniel Rogger and Martin Williams. For the World Bank book: ‘Government Analytics: Leveraging Data to Strengthen Public Administration’ edited by Daniel Rogger and Christian Schuster

Both available here: https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/government-analytics?cid=pub_tt_wbpublications_en_ext

  • Evaluating the Effectiveness of Line Management Training: Reports on the Evaluation of Line Management Capability training in the UK Civil Service, including Foundation, Practitioner, Senior Practitioner and Achieving Your Potential, with Christian Schuster and Ine Steenmans.

We evaluated the Civil Service’s training programmes to upskill line managers using surveys, interviews, observations and one of the first randomised controlled trials of management training in UK government. The findings show that while participants consistently learn from the programmes, translating that learning into sustained changes in management practice remains a challenge. The research also highlights opportunities to create a more coherent development pathway for managers across government.

Reports available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluating-the-effectiveness-of-line-management-training