Basak Kus
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About Basak
Basak writes about political economy (APE/CPE) and law and politics. Before Wesleyan, she did postdoctoral research at Yale and Princeton, and taught at University College Dublin. A key question underpins her various interests: How do governments conceptualize and respond to crises and risks, whether related to the financial sector, climate change, or national security? Her work to date has focused on economic crises and liberalization reforms, the restructuring of the welfare state, state-labor union relations, financial regulations, credit, and inequality. Her current research is situation in the political economy of climate change.
Contributions
Climate Adaptation Requires More Than Disaster Relief
Publications
Argues that tackling climate change requires major changes to how economies are organized, not just new technologies or market fixes. Shows that governments, finance systems, and institutions play a key role in whether green policies are effective and fair.
Explains why endless economic growth is harder to justify in a climate crisis and why governments must balance environmental limits with fairness. Argues the state has an important role in managing these trade-offs.
Shows how financial markets have gained power over time, making it harder for governments to regulate the economy and reduce inequality. Argues this shift weakens democratic control, especially during economic crises.
Shows that access to cheap goods and credit can make people feel better off, even when inequality is rising. As a result, they may be less likely to support policies that redistribute wealth.
Finds that as financial markets grow, income inequality tends to increase across developed countries. Explains this through changes in how companies operate and how income is distributed.