Chris Blattman

Chris Blattman is the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at The University of Chicago, in the Harris School of Public Policy, as well as a research associate at NBER. He studies why some people and societies are poor, violent and unequal, and what (if anything) aid or governments can do about it. He works principally in Africa, Latin America, and the United States.

Chris received a PhD in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 2007 and a Master’s in Public Administration and International Development (MPA/ID) from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2002. He blogs about research and international development on his personal website and at The Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog.

Chris serves as Co-Chair of J-PAL's Crime, Violence, and Conflict sector, Co-Chair of the Crime and Violence Initiative, and Co-Chair of J-PAL North America's Crime and Violence Prevention portfolio. He has served as a mentor to J-PAL regional scholars, and has lectured at J-PAL training events.