Mafalda Pratas
Political Scientist
Contact
I am Ph.D candidate in the Department of Government at Harvard University, interested in comparative politics, political economy, and political behavior. My research examines the trade-offs of representation for voters and elites.
Voters have many goals when they go to the polls, such as selecting good quality politicians, voting for the closest political party, electing people who look like them, and advancing their ideological and policy goals. Often, it is not possible to fulfill all these goals at the same time. How do cross-pressured voters decide? In my dissertation, I show that voters are aware of these trade-offs and that heightened ideological polarization makes them more likely to rationally forgo accountability.
My research also studies elites' multiple goals and their strategic choices. I have projects examining how representatives balance geographic and partisan representation, as well as electoral, organizational, and policy goals.
I study these and related questions in multiple national contexts, such as the United States, Europe, and Brazil. My work uses experimental evidence, comparative observational data, and case studies.
At Harvard, I have received research funding from the Institute for Quantitative Social Science and the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies. Prior to my Ph.D., I have graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA in Economics and Political Science.
In this website, you can find my publications, research projects, teaching experience, CV and contact information. If you are interested in my research or have any questions, feel free to send me an email!
Voters have many goals when they go to the polls, such as selecting good quality politicians, voting for the closest political party, electing people who look like them, and advancing their ideological and policy goals. Often, it is not possible to fulfill all these goals at the same time. How do cross-pressured voters decide? In my dissertation, I show that voters are aware of these trade-offs and that heightened ideological polarization makes them more likely to rationally forgo accountability.
My research also studies elites' multiple goals and their strategic choices. I have projects examining how representatives balance geographic and partisan representation, as well as electoral, organizational, and policy goals.
I study these and related questions in multiple national contexts, such as the United States, Europe, and Brazil. My work uses experimental evidence, comparative observational data, and case studies.
At Harvard, I have received research funding from the Institute for Quantitative Social Science and the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies. Prior to my Ph.D., I have graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA in Economics and Political Science.
In this website, you can find my publications, research projects, teaching experience, CV and contact information. If you are interested in my research or have any questions, feel free to send me an email!
