Charles R. Hankla

Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

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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 | No Jargon Podcast | In the News | Publications

Contributions

Rethinking the Roles of Congress and the President in "Fast Tracking" U.S. Trade Negotiations

Basic Facts Brief, July 2014

How Registration Reforms Can Boost Voter Participation in Georgia

Henry F. Carey
Daniel Paul Franklin
Jennifer L. McCoy

Basic Facts Brief, March 2014

In the News

Quoted by Elizabeth Crisp in "Trickle-Down Economics? Term Is Back As Biden’s Big-Spending Plans Reject GOP Policies," Newsweek, May 11, 2021.

Opinion: "How Disorderly Democracies Can Outperform Efficient Autocracies in Tackling Coronavirus," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, May 7, 2020.

Opinion: "Trump Could Be Using Advanced Game Theory Negotiating Techniques - Or He's Hopelessly Adrift," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, June 8, 2018.

Quoted by Nathan King in "US and China Agree to More Dialogue after Trade Talks, but Big Differences Remain," CGTN America, May 4, 2018.

Opinion: "What is the TPP and Can the US Get Back In?," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, April 18, 2018.

Opinion: "Trump’s Go-It-Alone Approach to China Trade Ignores WTO’s Better Way to Win," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, March 27, 2018.

Quoted by John Donovan in "Who Wins (and Loses) If U.S. Imposes Steel Tariffs?," HowStuffWorks, March 6, 2018.

Quoted by Rachel Layne in "How Trump's Tariffs Could Hand Trade Leadership to China," CBS News, March 5, 2018.

Opinion: "Economic History Shows Why Trump’s ‘America First’ Tariff Policy is so Dangerous," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, March 1, 2018.

Opinion: "Why it's Too Soon for Davos Billionaires to Toast Trump's 'Pro-Business' Policies," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, January 29, 2018.

Opinion: "Trump’s ‘America First’ Trade Policy Ignores Key Lesson from Great Depression," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, November 15, 2017.

Opinion: "What the UK Election Means for Brexit and America," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, June 7, 2017.

Opinion: "Trump’s Brand of Economic Populism Gets a Makeover in First 100 Days," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, April 24, 2017.

Opinion: "Does TPP’s Slow Death Mean the World is Now Unsafe for Trade Deals?," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, September 1, 2016.

Opinion: "Intolerance on the March: Do Brexit and Trump Point to Global Rejection of Liberal Ideals?," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, June 28, 2016.

Opinion: "Can Free Trade and TPP Survive Rise of the ‘New Right’?," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, March 29, 2016.

Opinion: "TPP’s New Battle Lines May Pose Threat to World’s Biggest Trade Deal," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, October 9, 2015.

Opinion: "Pacific Trade Deal’s Outlook Clouded by Patent Disputes, Elections as Talks Enter Final Stage," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, August 12, 2015.

Opinion: "Four Lessons for U.S. and World as President Finally Gets What He Wants: A Free Hand on Trade," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, June 24, 2015.

Opinion: "Fast-Track Overcomes Key Hurdle, but Obstacles Remain as Trade Deals Hang in Balance," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, May 22, 2015.

Opinion: "Bipartisan Fast-Track Bill Offers Best Chance to Cinch Trade Pacts," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, April 27, 2015.

Opinion: "Updating ‘Fast-Track’ is Key to Getting a Trade Deal in 2015," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, January 5, 2015.

Opinion: "Why the WTO Still Matters," Charles R. Hankla, The Conversation, December 9, 2014.

Opinion: "How to Build Voter Turnout," Charles R. Hankla (with Jennifer McCoy), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 14, 2014.

Interviewed in Charles Hankla interviewed in Congressional Quarterly Congressional Quarterly, December 4, 2008.

Interviewed in Charles Hankla interviewed on Europe 1 Europe 1, November 3, 2008.

Interviewed in Charles Hankla interviewed in Rolling Out Magazine Rolling Out Magazine, October 18, 2008.

Interviewed in Charles Hankla interviewed on France 3 Television News France 3 Television News, February 6, 2008.

Publications

"Promoting Development in the Black Belt Region: A Plan for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission," (with Richard F. Doner, Veronica L. Womack, Gloria Bromell Tinubu, and Michael J. Rich), 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.

"Economic Liberalism in Illiberal Regimes: Authoritarian Variation and the Political Economy of Trade" (with Daniel Kuthy). International Studies Quarterly 57, no. 3 (2013): 492-504.

Explores the effects of authoritarian variation on national trade policies.

"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.

"Understanding the Role of the European Court of Justice in European Integration" (with Clifford Carrubba and Matthew Gabel). 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.

"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.

"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).

"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.