Gautam Nair Photo
Associate Professor of Public Policy
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Gautam Nair is a tenure-track Associate Professor of Public Policy. He is a scholar of inequality, distribution, and democracy. His research focuses on the politics of social policy, state-business relations, and South Asia. Nair’s first book, Retail State: The Politics of Consumption Welfare in India and Beyond, is forthcoming from Cambridge University Press. For hundreds of millions of people around the world, the welfare state delivers subsidized grain, cooking gas, or a free television, rather than a pension, an unemployment check, or cash. The book explains why, and traces the consequences for democracy and development. His papers have been published in the Journal of Politics and International Organization, among other journals. His research has been recognized with the Midwest Political Science Association’s Paula D. McClain Award for best paper and Kellogg/Notre Dame Award for best paper in comparative politics. He is also the recipient of best paper awards from the American Political Science Association’s sections on American Political Economy and Class and Inequality. Nair teaches courses on South Asia and the political economy of development. He co-chairs the Weatherhead Center Research Cluster on Business and Government and is affiliated with the Ash Center, Center for International Development, and other Harvard institutes. Nair received his PhD in political science from Yale University.

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Outside Professional Activities For Gautam Nair

Organization Relationship
Midwest Political Science Association Prizes or awards

Expertise

Politics
Globalization
Social Policy
Business & Regulation
Democracy & Governance
Development & Economic Growth
International Relations & Security