Michael Tomz
Assistant Professor, Stanford University
Department of Political Science
Encina Hall West, Stanford, CA 94305-6044
Phone: 650-725-4031, Email: tomz@stanford.edu
Website: http://www.stanford.edu/~tomz



Education

Harvard University: Ph.D. in Political Science, November 2001.
Oxford University: M.Phil. in Politics, July 1994. Marshall Scholar.
Georgetown University: B.S., summa cum laude, in International Relations, May 1992.

Research Interests

International Relations, Political Economy, Public Opinion, Methodology.

For a copy of my research statement, click here.

Books

Reputation and International Cooperation: Sovereign Debt across Three Centuries. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007. The book is available from Princeton University Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble.

Modern Political Economy and Latin America: Theory and Policy. Editor (with Jeffry Frieden and Manuel Pastor). Boulder: Westview Press, 2000. The book is available from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Articles

Domestic Audience Costs in International Relations: An Experimental Approach. International Organization 61, no. 4 (Fall 2007): 821-40.

Membership Has Its Privileges: The Impact of the GATT on International Trade (with Judith Goldstein and Douglas Rivers). Forthcoming, American Economic Review 97, no. 5 (December 2007).

Institutions in International Relations: Understanding the Effects of the GATT and the WTO on World Trade (with Judith Goldstein and Douglas Rivers). International Organization 61, no. 1 (Winter 2007): 37-67.

Do Countries Default in Bad Times? (with Mark Wright). Journal of the European Economic Association 5, no. 2-3 (May 2007): 352-60.

How Does Voting Equipment Affect the Racial Gap in Voided Ballots? (with Robert Van Houweling). American Journal of Political Science 47, no. 1 (January 2003): 46-60.

Relogit: Rare Events Logistic Regression (with Gary King and Langche Zeng). Journal of Statistical Software 8, no. 2 (2003). Abstract published in Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics 12, no. 1 (2003): 246-47.

Clarify: Software for Interpreting and Presenting Statistical Results (with Jason Wittenberg and Gary King). Journal of Statistical Software 8, no. 1 (2003). Abstract published in Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics 12, no. 1 (2003): 245-46.

An Easy and Accurate Regression Model for Multiparty Electoral Data (with Joshua Tucker and Jason Wittenberg). Political Analysis 10, no. 1 (Winter 2002): 66-83.

Making the Most of Statistical Analyses: Improving Interpretation and Presentation (with Gary King and Jason Wittenberg). American Journal of Political Science 44, no. 2 (April 2000): 347-61.

Electoral Surprise and the Midterm Loss in U.S. Congressional Elections (with Kenneth Scheve). British Journal of Political Science 29, no. 3 (July 1999): 507-21.

The Long-Run Advantages of Centralization for Collective Action (with Edward Schwartz). American Political Science Review 92, no. 3 (September 1997): 685-93.

Current Projects and Working Papers

The Credibility of International Commitments (supported by National Science Foundation CAREER Award SES-0548285)

Working Papers (available online):
The Effect of International Law on Preferences and Beliefs
Sovereign Theft: Theory and Evidence about Default and Expropriation (with Mark Wright)
Interests, Information, and the Domestic Politics of International Agreements
Democratic Default: Domestic Audiences and Compliance with International Agreements

Papers in Process:
"Reputation Spillovers in International Relations"
"Estimating the Effects of International Law with Observational Data"
"Reciprocity and Domestic Politics"
New Databases:
"MID Narratives+ Database" (with Jessica Weeks). Provides narratives, complete citations, and new variables for the Militarized Interstate Dispute Database. As of September 2007, our research group has documented more than 1,000 disputes. Data are stored in an Internet wiki that facilitates collaboration to improve the database (to be opened to the public in 2008).

"A Century of Expropriation." Describes cases of expropriation of foreign direct investment since 1900. The data are useful for testing theories about the causes and effects of expropriation, including reputation spillovers from FDI to other areas of international relations. As of September 2007, the database contains all known twentieth-century cases of expropriation of U.S. firms.

"Commerce and the Law before World War II." Contains data on commercial treaties and bilateral trade in the pre-GATT era. As of September 2007, the database includes MFN agreements, direction of trade, and national accounts for the years 1920-40.

The Political Economy of Elections (supported by National Science Foundation Award SES-0550844 to Paul Sniderman, Michael Tomz, and Robert Van Houweling)

Working Papers (available online):
The Microfoundations of Issue Voting (with Robert Van Houweling)
The Electoral Implications of Candidate Ambiguity (with Robert Van Houweling)
Brand Names and the Organization of Mass Belief Systems (with Paul Sniderman)
Papers in Process:
"Spatial Models of Voting: A Formal-Experimental Approach" (with Robert Van Houweling)
"Ideological Asymmetries in the American Party System" (with Van Houweling and Sniderman)
"Projection and Persuasion" (with Robert Van Houweling and Paul Sniderman)

Software

Treatment: Software for Public Opinion Surveys with Embedded Experiments (with Nico Benitez), copyright 2005-07. Latest Version Beta 1.1, August 2007. Creates multimedia surveys with embedded experiments, delivers surveys over the Internet, and generates datasets and codebooks for analysis.

Diagnosis: Software for Assessing Covariate Balance in Randomized Experiments and Observational Data, copyright 2007. Implements parametric and nonparametric tests for covariate balance. An improved version is now in development in collaboration with Jas Sekhon and Rocio Titiunik.

Clarify: Software for Interpreting and Presenting Statistical Results (with Jason Wittenberg and Gary King), copyright 1998-2003. Latest Version 2.1, released January 5, 2003. Uses stochastic simulation to interpret statistical results of non-linear models. Clarify won the 1999 APSA Award for the Best Research Software in Political Science.

ReLogit: Rare Events Logistic Regression (with Gary King and Langche Zeng), copyright 1999-2003. Latest Version 2.0, released January 22, 2003. Performs logistic regression when the sample is unbalanced or has been selected by a rule correlated with the dependent variable.


Awards and Research Grants

National Science Foundation, Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, "Credible Commitments in International Relations," 2006-11

National Science Foundation, "Studies of Spatial Reasoning in Political Choice" (with Paul Sniderman and Robert Van Houweling), 2006-08

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Fellow, 2006-07

Howard Foundation, George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Fellowship, 2006-07

Stanford University, Victoria Schuck Faculty Scholar, 2006-present

National Science Foundation: Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS), "Audience Costs in International Crises," 2003

National Science Foundation: Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS), "Political Choice Spaces and Political Choices" (with Paul Sniderman), 2003

Stanford University Research Grants Center for Latin American Studies, 2002, 2003
Institute for International Studies, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Office of Technology Licensing, 2001-04
Social Science History Institute, 2001, 2003
Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society, 2001

American Political Science Association, Okidata Best Research Software Award, 1999

Harvard Merit Fellowship (awarded to the top ten Ph.D. students in any field at Harvard), 1997-98

Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowships MacArthur Foundation, MacArthur Fellowship in Transnational Security, 1999-2000
Social Science Research Council, International Dissertation Field Research Fellowship, 1998-99
Institute for the Study of World Politics, Dissertation Fellowship, 1998-99
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, 1997-98
National Science Foundation, Graduate Research Fellowship, 1994-97

Marshall Scholarship (to study for a master's degree at Oxford University), 1992-94

Georgetown University Honors Scholar's Medal for Highest Achievement in the School of Foreign Service, 1992
Nevils Medal for Highest Scholarship in U.S. Diplomatic History, 1992
Walsh Medal for Highest Scholarship in International Politics, 1992
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, 1991
Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society, 1991
Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society, 1991

National Champion in Extemporaneous Speaking, Runner-up in Team Debate, 1988


Visiting Positions

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Fellow in Residence, 2006-07

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Visiting Scholar, July 2006

International Monetary Fund, Research Department, Visiting Scholar, April 2004


Conference Presentations and Invited Talks

Peking University, School of Government, December 2008
University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Fall 2008
American Political Science Association Conference, September 2008
University of Oregon, Department of Political Science, May 2008
Princeton University, "Domestic Preferences and Foreign Economic Policy" Conference, April 2008
Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2008
International Studies Association Conference, March 2008
Princeton University, Department of Politics, March 2008
University of Pennsylvania, Browne Center for International Affairs, March 2008
Harvard University, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, March 2008
Stanford University, Research Workshop in American Politics, February 2008
Princeton University, "Reputations and International Agreements" Conference, February 2008
University of California at San Diego, Project on International Affairs, February 2008
Ohio State University, Mershon Center for International Security Studies, February 2008
Yale University, Department of Political Science, January 2008
UCLA, Department of Political Science, January 2008
University of Chicago, Department of Political Science, December 2007
University of Minnesota, Department of Political Science, December 2007
University of Rochester, Department of Political Science, November 2007
University of California at Berkeley, Department of Political Science, November 2007
University of Notre Dame, Department of Political Science, November 2007
University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy, November 2007
Stanford University, International Political Economy Society Conference, November 2007
Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, October 2007
Duke University, Department of Political Science, October 2007
University of Michigan, Ford School of Public Policy, October 2007
American Political Science Association Conference, September 2007
Stanford University, Methods of Analysis Program in the Social Sciences, May 2007
Columbia University, Political Economy Seminar, May 2007
University of Rochester, Department of Political Science, April 2007
Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2007
University of Minnesota, Political Economy Colloquium, March 2007
Rice University, Department of Political Science, February 2007
University of California at Berkeley, Haas Institutional Analysis Seminar, January 2007
Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, January 2007
Stanford Law School, International Law Workshop, December 2006
Princeton University, Department of Politics, November 2006
Princeton University, International Political Economy Society Conference, November 2006
UCLA, "States and Capital Markets in Comparative Historical Perspective" Conference, October 2006
Yale University, Leitner Political Economy Workshop, September 2006
American Political Science Association Conference, September 2006
New York University, Department of Politics, April 2006
Princeton University, "Rationality and Reputation in International Relations" Conference, April 2006
Stanford University, "Trade Liberalization and its Consequences" Conference, April 2006
Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2006
International Studies Association Conference, March 2006
University of Michigan, Political Economy of International Finance Conf. (participant), October 2005
Duke University, Global Governance and Democracy Seminar, September 2005
American Political Science Association Conference, September 2005
University of Pennsylvania, "Time Sharing Experiments for Social Sciences" Conference, June 2005
Columbia University, International Politics Seminar, May 2005
Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2005
International Studies Association Conference, March 2005
Stanford University, SCID Latin America Conference (discussant), November 2004
International Society for New Institutional Economics Conference (Tucson), October 2004
American Political Science Association Conference, September 2004
University of Chicago, Program on International Politics, Economics, and Security, May 2004
Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2004
University of Southern California, "Compliance in International Law" Conference, April 2004
International Monetary Fund, Research Department, April 2004
University of California at San Diego, Department of Political Science, March 2004
University of California at San Diego, Political Economy of International Finance Conf., March 2004
Harvard University, "Politics of Globalization" Conference, October 2003
American Political Science Association Conference, September 2003
Stanford University, "Argentina at a Crossroads" Conference, May 2003
Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 2003
Claremont Graduate University, "Global Political Economy Data" (participant), April 2003
World Affairs Council, Palo Alto, January 2003
American Economic Association Conference (discussant), January 2003
Political Economy of International Finance Conference (Georgetown, participant), October 2002
American Political Science Association Conference, September 2002

Teaching Awards

Allan V. Cox Medal for Faculty Excellence Fostering Undergraduate Research, Stanford University, 2005. This is a university-wide award, given to one professor at Stanford each year. For more information click here.

Keynote Speaker, Summer Honors College, Stanford University, 2005. For a copy of my keynote address, click here.

Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, 2003.

Grants from Stanford University (Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education) to support the Political Science Program for Undergraduate Research, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.

Grants from Stanford University (Program in Ethics and Society, and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education) for curricular development of "Introduction to International Relations," 2001, 2002.

Derek Bok Certificate for Excellence in Teaching, Harvard University, 1997.


Teaching Interests

International Relations: IR theory; international political economy

Political Economy: the politics of economic development; electoral politics

Methodology: econometrics and data analysis; research design; experimental methods


Teaching Experience

Undergraduate courses: Introduction to International Relations, Stanford University
The Politics of Economic Development, Stanford University
Honors Thesis Advisor, Stanford University
Directed readings on International Law and International Trade, Stanford University

 Graduate Courses: International Relations Theory, Stanford University
Theoretical Issues in International Political Economy, Stanford University
Research Workshop in International Relations, Stanford University
Other Teaching: Interpreting and Presenting Statistical Results, APSA Annual Meeting Short Course, 1999
Introduction to Quantitative Political Methodology (Teaching Fellow), Harvard University, 1997
The Cuban Revolution: A Self-Debate (Teaching Fellow), Harvard University, 1997
Tutor in Government, Leverett House, Harvard University, 1996-2000
Debate Instructor, Berkeley, Stanford, University of Kentucky, and University of Texas, summers 1989-1992
Ph.D. Students (with degree year and initial job placements): Matthew Carnes (Ph.D. expected 2008), Georgetown University
Catherine Duggan (Ph.D. 2007), Harvard Business School
Ebru Erdem (Ph.D. 2006), University of California, Riverside
Eugenia Guilmartin (Ph.D. 2002), United States Military Academy
Moonhawk Kim (Ph.D. 2005), University of Colorado Boulder
Solomon Major (Ph.D. 2005), Naval Postgraduate School
Nikolay Marinov (Ph.D. 2003), Yale University
André de Mello e Souza (Ph.D. 2005), Pontifíca Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Netithorn Praditsarn (Ph.D. 2005), Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tonya Putnam (Ph.D. 2005), Columbia University
Todd Sechser (Ph.D. 2007), University of Virginia
Jessica Weeks (Ph.D. expected 2008), Cornell University

Conferences Organized

Sovereign Debt and Latin America: Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives. A Conference of the Social Science History Institute. Stanford University, February 28-March 1, 2003.

Frontiers in Latin American Political Economy. A Conference of the Social Science History Institute Stanford University. January 18-19, 2002. Co-organizer with Alberto Diaz Cayeros, Steve Haber, Beatriz Magaloni, Barry Weingast.


University Service

Stanford Department of Political Science: Founder and Director, Political Science Undergraduate Research Program, 2002-present
Faculty Search Committee, 2001-02, 2007-08
Graduate Admissions Committee, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006
Field Convener, International Relations Subfield, 2002-03
Department Representative, Conference on Training for Teaching Assistants, 2001
Office Allocation Committee, 2001-02
Stanford University: Committee on Academic Computing and Information Systems, 2007-present
Research Experience Program Steering Committee/Advisory Board, 2006-present
Institute for Research in the Social Sciences Junior Faculty Advisory Committee, 2006-present
International Documents Librarian Search Committee, Stanford Libraries, 2005-06
Grant Evaluator, Office of Technology Assessment, 2003
Grant Evaluator, Institute for International Studies, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
Grant Evaluator, Undergraduate Research Office, 2002, 2006
Admissions Committee, International Policy Studies Graduate Program, 2001-02
Executive Committee, International Relations and International Policy Studies, 2001-present
Outside Chair, Ph.D. exam committees in Business, Economics, History, 2001-present
Academic advisor for more than 80 Stanford undergraduates, 2001-present

Professional Activities

Reviewer: American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, American Politics Research, Economics & Politics, Electoral Studies, International Organization, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of International Economics, Journal of Law & Economics, Journal of Politics, Perspectives on Politics, Political Analysis, Political Psychology, Public Choice, Review of International Economics, Social Science Quarterly, State Politics & Policy Quarterly, World Politics, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order, National Science Foundation, Princeton University Press, Routledge Press, Time Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS).

Member: American Political Science Association, Midwest Political Science Association, International Studies Association, American Economic Association

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Revised March 2008