The Chicago Theory and Models Workshop, or “TAM,” is a seminar at the University of Chicago designed to build and support a University-wide community of faculty and students interested in the development of theories and models relevant to political processes and phenomena. Recognizing Chicago’s unique tradition of methodological inclusiveness and deep theoretical development in the social sciences, the workshop is focused on both advancing longstanding topics and embracing new directions in theoretical social science. The workshop is currently organized by Professors Elizabeth Maggie Penn and John W. Patty in the Department of Political Science.
2016-17 Presentations in TAM
Unless otherwise noted, all talks are on Fridays, from 3-4pm in Pick 506.
- October 7, 2016: Yue Hou, University of Pennsylvania.
“Participatory Autocracy: Private Entrepreneurs, Legislatures, and Property Protection in China”
- October 14, 2016: Jeffery Jenkins, University of Virginia.
“Pivotal Politics and the Ideological Content of Landmark Laws”
- October 28, 2016: Kenneth Shepsle, Harvard University.
- November 18, 2016: John Padgett, University of Chicago.
“The Emergence of Organizations and Markets”
- December 2, 2016: Alice Hsiaw, Brandeis University.
“Distrust in Experts and the Origins of Disagreement” (with Ing-Haw Cheng)
Note: Professor Hsiaw’s talk will be on Friday, 12/2 at noon in Room 140C in the Harris School.
- February 3, 2017: Eric Dickson, New York University.
“Profiling in the Lab: How Group Targeting by Law Enforcement Affects Legitimacy and Compliance” (with Sandy Gordon and Greg Huber)
- February 17, 2017: William Jacoby, Michigan State University.
“Interviewer Ratings of Respondent Political Knowledge: Calibrating a Useful Measurement Instrument”- Sign up for an appointment with Professor Jacoby.
- February 24, 2017: Maya Sen, Harvard University.
“The Politics of Selecting the Bench from the Bar: The Legal Profession and Partisan Incentives to Politicize the Judiciary”- Sign up for an appointment with Professor Sen.
- March 3, 2017: Samuel Chambers, Johns Hopkins University.
(Postponed to 2017-18)
- April 14, 2017: Francisco Garfias, University of California-San Diego.
“Elite Conflict, Demographic Collapse, and the Transition to Direct Rule: Evidence from Colonial Mexico”
- Sign up for an appointment with Professor Garfias.
- April 28, 2017: Jason Roberts, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
“Times, Places, and Manner: The Politics of State Election Laws”- Sign up for an appointment with Professor Roberts.
- May 3, 2017: Aziz Rana, Cornell University. (12pm, Joint with Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture)
- May 5, 2017: Anne Sartori, MIT.
(Postponed to 2017-18)
- May 12, 2017: Michael Dawson, University of Chicago & Allison Harris, Pennsylvania State University.
(Postponed to 2017-18)
- May 19, 2017: Milan Svolik, Yale University.
- May 26, 2017: Jonathan Rodden, Stanford University.
“Who is my Neighbor? The Spatial Efficiency of Partisanship”- Sign up for an appointment with Professor Rodden.
2017/18: James Scott, Yale University.
Past Presentations
- May 6, 2016: Keith Poole, University of Georgia.
“The Polarization of American Politics.” - February 18, 2016: Daniel Rubenson, Ryerson University.
“Policy Deliberation and Voter Persuasion: Experimental Evidence from an Election in the Philippines.”
Nominations for Future Speakers
TAM accepts, on an ongoing basis, nominations from University of Chicago faculty and graduate students, subject to the following guidelines:
- Speakers are expected to present original social science research in a one hour seminar. Typically, the presentation is about 40 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of Q&A. There is no expectation that participants have read the paper beforehand.
- TAM will reimburse normal travel expenses, but does not offer honoraria.
- The nominator is expected to attend both the research presentation and a dinner afterward.
- TAM will gladly collaborate with other workshops and colloquia to bring speakers out, with the expectation that these guests will also present a one-hour seminar in TAM.
- The TAM schedule is flexible, but the workshop is typically held at 3pm on Friday afternoons, followed by a happy hour and dinner.
Any member of the TAM community interested in attending dinner with a speaker (and graduate students interested in an affiliation with the workshop) should email either Professor Patty or Professor Penn.
If you would like to nominate someone to be invited to present in TAM, please visit this page.
The Theory & Models Workshop is generously supported by the Division of Social Sciences and the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.