Philosophy, Politics and Economics

At UB, we are at the cutting edge of the study of liberalism, dynamism, diversity and democracy.  We combine philosophical richness with the rigor of formal models and experimental methods.  We study the foundations of the Open Society – where where diverse ideas, businesses, and values can be explored and tested by all citizens. 

This work is supported by millions of dollars in grants, which has allowed us to develop a large community of faculty, postdocs, graduate students and undergraduates who are passionate about advancing the research frontier.

PPE research explores questions such as:

• What makes political and economic systems fair or unjust?
• How should societies balance freedom, equality and efficiency?
• What obligations do governments have to their citizens?
• How should resources be distributed in a just society?
• How do incentives and institutions shape human behavior?

These questions are central to understanding real-world challenges such as inequality, regulation, democracy and global cooperation.

UB’s PPE research draws from a truly interdisciplinary toolkit.  We use philosophical analysis, agent-based simulations, formal methods like game theory, and empirical methods like survey instruments and lab experiments.  We draw on existing empirical work to enrich philosophical analysis, and use models to help us identify novel insights when studying complex social problems.

This work often includes:

• Normative analysis of political and economic systems
• Experimental work in our Choice Lab
• Formal and informal modeling of social choice and incentives
• Evaluation of public policies and institutions
• Agent-based modeling in our PPE Lab
• Interdisciplinary collaboration with economists, political scientists and legal scholars

PPE research at UB commonly explores:

• The structure and dynamics of social norms
• Social choice and collective decision making
• Democratic theory and institutional design
• Public policy and governance
• Disagreement and Dynamism

Together, these approaches help clarify how values and incentives shape political and economic life.

Students can engage in PPE research through faculty-mentored projects, independent study and interdisciplinary work that connects philosophy with economics and political theory. Learn to develop experiments and surveys, model complex social issues, and draw on empirical findings as you make normative arguments.  Many students pursue PPE as preparation for careers in policy, law, government or graduate study.