I am an applied economist with interests in political economy and finance. My research has investigated both the determinants of political and cultural institutions, and the consequences of these institutions. My research interests have led me to a wide variety of settings, from economic history and politics to financial markets. I have also used a variety of methodologies to answer my research questions, with a focus on causal identification. As an applied econometrician, I have used quasi-experimental methodologies, lab experiments, and more recently machine learning methods in research. That said, the primary motivation behind my research lies not in the application of methods but in the questions, which concern the interaction between culture, politics, social attitudes, and economic outcomes.