Raj Patel

PPE Fellow (Fall 2020 - Present)
375 Clauda Cohen Hall

PhD in Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania (2020)
MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge (2014)
MA in Public Policy, George Washington University (2013)

Research Interests: 

My research interests lie at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics. My work aims to understand the role that informal institutions play in solving collective action problems. I'm particularly interested in the political economy of corruption and the provision of public goods in the developing world. As a project consultant at the Chatham House Africa Programme, I investigate social norms surrounding corrupt practices in Nigeria. As a core member of the Penn Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics, I study how communities resolve collective dilemmas to secure access to clean water and sanitation in India.

Courses Taught: 
  • Research in PPE: Corruption and Development
  • Research in PPE: Institutions and Development
  • Social Policy Capstone: Philosophy and Public Policy
  • Social Policy Capstone: Corruption and Development
  • Social Policy Capstone: Bioethics
  • Social Policy Capstone: Business Ethics
  • Social Policy Capstone: Artificial Intelligence