Christopher Blattman

As a faculty member in The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, Christopher Blattman is helping the Institute pursue its global mission by focusing on some of the biggest social challenges in Africa and Latin America: conflict, crime, and state building.

As an economist and political scientist, Prof. Blattman uses field study, surveys, natural experiments and field experiments to study the dynamics of poverty and participation, and to consider which development programs work and why. A number of studies are presently underway in Uganda and Liberia, where he is exploring new strategies to alleviate poverty and is exploring how these strategies impact violence, unrest, and other social and political behavior.

He has published articles in American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, American Political Science Review, Journal of Economic Literature, Journal of Economic Perspectives, International Organization, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and Review of Economics and Statistics.

Blattman Stories

New book examines roots of violence, paths to peace

In ‘Why We Fight,’ Prof. Christopher Blattman lays out five reasons for major conflicts

Review: Why governments should give away money

<p>Prof. Chris Blattman discusses cash transfers</p>


Christopher Blattman

Title: Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at Harris Public Policy

Expertise: Crime, Poverty

Departmental website: https://harris.uchicago.edu/directory/christopher-blattman