FROM THE DEAN :
What ’ s going on …
… WITH GPS ’ S 30TH ANNIVERSARY ? “ Thirty years ago , the founders of GPS created a school where the skills of the faculty and students would focus on understanding the political and economic rise of Asia and Latin America . Deliberately interdisciplinary , regionally focused and data driven , GPS has been at the forefront of understanding the implications of the Pacific Century . This year we continue our analysis of global transformation through events and activities designed to promote thought and discussion on prescriptions for 21st-century policy , the intersection of technology and policy , and guidance of an evolving political economy .”
… WITH GPS STUDENTS ? “ To better serve our students , our degree offerings have grown to cover both international affairs and public policy , an executive education master ' s and integrated five-year options for students
yielding both a bachelor ’ s and a master ’ s degree . We are also forging partnerships with international universities to enhance and diversify exchange programs and networking opportunities .”
… WITH GPS FACULTY ? “ GPS has a special position of strength for global issues because of our commanding expertise on the Pacific region , Asia and the Americas . We think about solutions for challenges at the local and global levels . Our faculty in international relations and economics are among the highest ranked in the world . Furthermore , GPS has embraced UC San Diego ’ s strengths as a preeminent university in science , engineering and medicine . We have faculty with doctoral degrees in the natural sciences , who also publish as skilled policy analysts . Many of our social scientists are experts in fields ranging from energy modeling and engineering through epidemiology and the economic dynamics of digital platforms .”
… WITH THE NAME CHANGE THREE YEARS AGO ? “ We changed our name from the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies to better frame our contribution to research , teaching and policy making . We were right that the Pacific would become the new fulcrum of global dynamics . We were right that future leaders needed a mix of core skills reflecting public policy , business and nonprofit dynamics . The new name — Global Policy and Strategy — proclaims that a focus on the Pacific provides leverage for global leadership , and advancing global welfare will require a mix of public and private solutions .”
— Dean Peter F . Cowhey
UMA R . KARMARKAR : “ The latest thing I ’ m working on is how people use different kinds of information when they ’ re faced with uncertainty , particularly in financial decisions . I find that positive information has more influence on our choices than negative information , and that this difference may be more pronounced for men than it is for women . But everyone puts a meaningful value on any kind of information that can make them feel more certain .”
MUNSEOB LEE : “ I ’ ve found creative destruction , by which newly developed products replace outdated ones , is a major source of economic growth . Big data from grocery stores and mass merchandisers show that rates of product creation and destruction are remarkably large : 4 percent of all products are replaced every quarter . During the 2007 – 09 recession , this activity declined by 25 percent ; this missing generation of creative destruction hindered the recovery .”
ELIZABETH LYONS : “ One of the latest findings from my research is that individuals ’ preferences for pay equality that may lead them to turn down profitable opportunities can be overcome by using organizational design , specifically job titles , to signal why pay inequality across worker-types is warranted .”
AGUSTINA PAGLAYAN : “ In a new study , I find that the differences in education spending we see across U . S . states today date back to the early 20th century , and were neither caused nor exacerbated by the emergence of strong teacher unions in some states but not others . In another ongoing project , I find that , around the world , public primary education systems emerged mostly to instill values in children , rather than provide them with skills to improve their job prospects .”
NICO RAVANILLA : “ After analyzing Philippine public works data , I ’ ve discovered that the procurement process disproportionately benefits politically connected firms , and that this pattern not only explains the political cycle in public works spending , but also accounts for the persistent poor quality and repeated allocation of funds for repairs of public works , instead of new construction .”
KATE RICKE : “ My latest work calculates the economic impact of CO 2 emissions — i . e ., the social cost of carbon — for all countries . We find that the three biggest emitters — China , the U . S . and India — have among the highest country-level social cost of carbon , meaning those with the most power to reduce climate damages also have the most incentive to do so .”
ULRIKE SCHAEDE : “ Japan is quietly positioning to be an important player in the looming digital disruption , i . e ., the New World run by autonomous systems , artificial intelligence and the Internet-of-things . The infrastructure needed for this plays into Japan ’ s competencies : sensors , 5G , smart city architecture , robotics and controls , mechatronics , etc . It ’ s exciting to see Japanese companies position to compete : look at Toyota and Softbank ' s new venture ‘ Monet ,’ you ’ ll see what I mean .”
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