I have joined the Department of Political Science at Oakland University, starting August 2009.
Please contact me through the department's website or at mdf257@mail.mizzou.edu
Education and Training
Ph.D., Political Science, University of Missouri, Expected May 2009
Fields - Comparative Politics, International Relations
B.A., Political Science, Truman State University, May 2004
Magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Dissertation
Title - The Political Economy of Property Rights: Institutions, Interests, and Economic Prosperity
Committee - Jonathan Krieckhaus (Chair), K.C. Morrison, A. Cooper Drury, Sean Nicholson-Crotty, Jeffrey Milyo
Secure property rights are a cornerstone of economic development. However, we know surprisingly little about the underlying determinants of strong property rights. Do political institutions such as democracy promote property rights? How does income inequality affect the security of property rights? My dissertation explores these questions, among others, by focusing on the origins of property rights. The project includes theoretical and mixed-methods empirical chapters accounting for the variation in property rights cross-nationally, and consequently, the great discrepancy between rich and poor countries. The findings contribute to the political economy literature emphasizing the importance of property rights for development, as well as alternative research agendas that rely on theoretical linkages between political institutions and political risk.
Click here for a short synopsis.
Click here for a working paper.
Other Research
Much of my research is in comparative political economy, focusing on the underlying political determinants of economic development. In short, how does politics determine whether countries are rich or poor? I am particularly interested in sub-Saharan Africa, but conduct research that is broadly cross-national and comparative as well. My dissertation explores one facet of this by analyzing the origins of development-promoting property rights institutions. In additional work, with Jonathan Krieckhaus, I have focused on the contributions of European colonialism to economic wealth. I have also conducted research on the determinants of inter-African economic development. These papers are in varying stages of completion, including some currently under review.
I have also conducted research on the relationship between mass attitudes and democracy in transitional regimes. This research has led to forthcoming articles in Democratization and Political Research Quarterly, the latter of which is co-authored with a fellow graduate student, Heather Nicole Pierce.
Click here for the Democratization paper.
Teaching
I have taught several courses at the University of Missouri. For undergraduates these include Comparative Political Systems, the introductory course in comparative politics (syllabus) and Globalization, Democracy, and Violence, a topics course focusing on the politics of the developing world (syllabus). I have also taught four lab sections of Introduction to Political Research, a required course for political science majors that introduces the systematic analysis of social and political phenomena. These lab sections involved close interaction with students as graduate instuctors supervised completion of original research projects.
At the graduate level, I have taught Computing Methods, a course teaching basic statistical programming and research design
(syllabus). This course is required for all first year graduate students in the Political Science department.
In recognition of my teaching effectiveness, I recieved the 2008 Missouri Excellence in Political Science Teaching Award.
Scanned copies of teaching evaluations are available for review.
PS 2004: Globalization, Democracy, and Violence.
PS 7010: Computing Methods.
PS 3000: Introduction to Political Research.