The Political Economy and Behaviour Group
ABOUT
PEBG is a space at the University of Toronto for work at the intersection of political economy and behaviour — open to anyone in any department working on, or curious about, these questions.
We meet weekly through term for visiting speakers, a graduate student reading group, internal research talks, and sessions on the craft of academic research.
DETAILS
Thursdays (and some Tuesdays) 10:00–11:30, rooms vary, check schedule
Faculty convenors: Daniel Rubenson and Chagai Weiss
Student coordinator: Danielle Bohonos
Register your interest in taking part by filling out the form here
If you have comments or suggestions, please email Daniel or Chagai
Fall 2026
INTRODUCTIONS
Tuesday, September 8
Room: SS 3020
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, September 17
Cyrus Samii, New York University
"Targeting Incentives for Environmental Stewardship (TIES): A Randomized Controlled Trial in Liberia"
Room: SS 3130
READING GROUP
Tuesday, September 22
Lundberg, Johnson and Stewart. 2021. “What Is Your Estimand? Defining the Target Quantity Connects Statistical Evidence to Theory”
Room: SS 3020
PROFESSIONALIZATION
Tuesday, September 29
Developing your research agenda (led by Chagai)
Room: SS 3020
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, October 8
John Marshall, Columbia University
"Generating and then meeting demand: Can radio journalists increase demand and supply of health services in Tanzania?"
Room: SS 3130
READING GROUP
Thursday, October 15
The uses and abuses of survey experiments (readings TBC)
Room: SS 3130
PROFESSIONALIZATION
Tuesday, October 20
Giving a talk (led by Daniel)
Room: SS 3020
VISITING SPEAKER
Monday, November 2 (NOTE DAY)
Guy Grossman, University of Pennsylvania
"Cutting humanitarian aid raises debt and lowers schooling without building refugees' self-reliance"
Room: SS 3130
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, November 12
Sophie Borwein, University of British Columbia
TBC
Room: SS 3130
TORONTO POLITICAL BEHAVIOUR WORKSHOP
November 13 & 14
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, November 19
Ceren Baysan, University of Toronto
"Private Support, Reported Backlash: Demand for Gender Equality in Conservative Contexts"
Room: SS 3130
READING GROUP
Thursday, November 26
TBC
SOCIAL
Thursday, December 3
Spring 2027
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, January 14
Josh Kalla, Yale University
"Sell What Voters Want: The Science of Winning Elections"
Room: SS 3130
READING GROUP
Thursday, January 21
TBC
Room: SS 3130
PROFESSIONALIZATION
Thursday, January 28
How to write a paper and publish it
Room: SS 3130
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Thursday, February 4
Room: SS 3130
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, February 11
TBC
Room: SS 3130
PROFESSIONALIZATION
Tuesday, February 23
Thinking about publishing your dissertation as a book or article(s) or both (led by Chagai)
Room: SS 3130
READING GROUP
Thursday, March 4
TBC
Room: SS 3130
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, March 11
Tianyi Wang, University of Toronto
"Waves of Empowerment: Black Radio and the Civil Rights Movement"
Room: SS 3130
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, March 18
Susan Hyde, University of California, Berkeley
TBC
Room: SS 3130
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Thursday, March 25
Room: SS 3130
PROFESSIONALIZATION
Thursday, April 1
How to conference
Room: SS 3130
VISITING SPEAKER
Thursday, April 8
TBC
Room: SS 3130
SOCIAL
Thursday, April 15