Charles Hankla
Associate Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University
Chapter Leader: Georgia SSN
Areas of Expertise:
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About Charles
Hankla’s research focuses on the politics of economic policy-making, including trade policy, industrial policy, and fiscal policy. Hankla also studies the impact of political decentralization on economic outcomes. Hankla often uses statistical methods to study all countries at once but is also engaged in more detailed studies of India and Europe. Hankla is often involved in consulting on issues of international development, in addition to his research, especially with the United States Agency for International Development and with the United Nations Development Program. Hankla has worked on projects relating to Vietnam, Egypt, and other countries. Hankla is also engaged in his local community in Atlanta. Hankla among other things is an elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a PTA member at his children’s school.
Contributions
In the News
Charles Hankla quoted on how Republican economic policies has remained in line with Reagan—that we should be cutting taxes by Elizabeth Crisp, "Trickle-Down Economics? Term Is Back As Biden’s Big-Spending Plans Reject GOP Policies" Newsweek, May 11, 2021.
"How Disorderly Democracies Can Outperform Efficient Autocracies in Tackling Coronavirus," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, May 7, 2020.
"Trump Could Be Using Advanced Game Theory Negotiating Techniques - Or He's Hopelessly Adrift," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, June 8, 2018.
Charles Hankla quoted on US-China trade by Nathan King, "US and China Agree to More Dialogue after Trade Talks, but Big Differences Remain" CGTN America, May 4, 2018.
"Trump’s Go-It-Alone Approach to China Trade Ignores WTO’s Better Way to Win," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, March 27, 2018.
Charles Hankla quoted by John Donovan, "Who Wins (and Loses) If U.S. Imposes Steel Tariffs?" HowStuffWorks, March 6, 2018.
Charles Hankla quoted by Rachel Layne, "How Trump's Tariffs Could Hand Trade Leadership to China" CBS News, March 5, 2018.
"Economic History Shows Why Trump’s ‘America First’ Tariff Policy is so Dangerous," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, March 1, 2018.
"Why it's Too Soon for Davos Billionaires to Toast Trump's 'Pro-Business' Policies," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, January 29, 2018.
"Trump’s ‘America First’ Trade Policy Ignores Key Lesson from Great Depression," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, November 15, 2017.
"What the UK Election Means for Brexit and America," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, June 7, 2017.
"Trump’s Brand of Economic Populism Gets a Makeover in First 100 Days," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, April 24, 2017.
"Does TPP’s Slow Death Mean the World is Now Unsafe for Trade Deals?," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, September 1, 2016.
"Intolerance on the March: Do Brexit and Trump Point to Global Rejection of Liberal Ideals?," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, June 28, 2016.
"Can Free Trade and TPP Survive Rise of the ‘New Right’?," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, March 29, 2016.
"TPP’s New Battle Lines May Pose Threat to World’s Biggest Trade Deal," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, October 9, 2015.
"Pacific Trade Deal’s Outlook Clouded by Patent Disputes, Elections as Talks Enter Final Stage," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, August 12, 2015.
"Four Lessons for U.S. and World as President Finally Gets What He Wants: A Free Hand on Trade," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, June 24, 2015.
"Fast-Track Overcomes Key Hurdle, but Obstacles Remain as Trade Deals Hang in Balance," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, May 22, 2015.
"Bipartisan Fast-Track Bill Offers Best Chance to Cinch Trade Pacts," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, April 27, 2015.
"Updating ‘Fast-Track’ is Key to Getting a Trade Deal in 2015," Charles Hankla, The Conversation, January 5, 2015.
"How to Build Voter Turnout," Charles Hankla (with ), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 14, 2014.
Interview on cotton subsidies, the World Trade Organization, and the Chambliss senatorial run-off in GeorgiaCharles Hankla, Congressional Quarterly, December 4, 2008.
Interview on the presidential electionCharles Hankla, Europe 1, November 3, 2008.
Interview on the presidential electionCharles Hankla, Rolling Out Magazine, October 18, 2008.
Interview on U.S. primary electionsCharles Hankla, France 3 Television News, February 6, 2008.
"Stimulus Package Will Help in Short Run, but New Borrowing Laws Needed," Charles Hankla, Augusta Chronicle, February 3, 2008.
Publications
"Promoting Development in the Black Belt Region: A Plan for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission," (with ), Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, May 2022.
Explores the recent creation of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC), the context in which it must operate, and the lessons it can learn from prior efforts. Highlights the critical role of defining and identifying distressed communities for the proper functioning of the commission, using Georgia as a critical case study. Presents a series of recommendations for the SCRC, each targeted at maximizing the commission's impact on the community and economic development throughout the region.
"Fragmented Legislatures and the Budget: Analyzing Presidential Democracies" Economics & Politics 25, no. 2 (2013): 200-228.
Develops and tests a theory for the impact of legislative fragmentation on budgetary politics in presidential democracies.
"Economic Liberalism in Illiberal Regimes: Authoritarian Variation and the Political Economy of Trade" (with ). International Studies Quarterly 57, no. 3 (2013): 492-504.
Explores the effects of authoritarian variation on national trade policies.
"Understanding the Role of the European Court of Justice in European Integration" (with ). American Political Science Review 106, no. 1 (2012): 214-223.
Offers a follow up to an article finding evidence for political constraints on European Court of Justice (ECJ) decision making.
"When is Fiscal Decentralization Good for Governance?" Publius The Journal of Federalism 39, no. 4 (2009): 632-650.
Reviews past research on the governance implications of devolving power to subnational authorities, and finds that the gains from decentralization depend sensitively on how subnational authorities and intergovernmental relations are structured.
"Judicial Behavior under Political Constraints: Evidence from the European Court of Justice" American Political Science Review 102, no. 4 (2008): 435-452.
Examines how threats of noncompliance and legislative override influence decisions by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
"Parties and Patronage: An Analysis of Trade and Industrial Policy in India" Comparative Politics 41, no. 1 (2008): 41-60.
Explores what political factors influence the allocation of economic patronage in democracies.
"Party Strength and International Trade: A Cross National Analysis" Comparative Political Studies 39, no. 9 (2006): 1133-1156.
Argues that, other things equal, democracies with strong parties will choose freer trade policies.