Alan Karras named first G. Eric and Margaret Davis Notable Lecturer in Political Economy

Political economy is the holistic study of the relationship between government, society, and the economy. The degree was tied with English as the 14th most popular major among the 2024-25 graduating class. The College of Letters & Science has designated political economy as a high-demand major, meaning that student demand exceeds available space or current teaching capacity.

In 2018, with Karras’s assistance, the Political Economy Program launched an alumni advisory board to bolster the program and create a network between current students and its exceptionally diverse alumni. As founding co-chair G. Eric Davis completed his inaugural term, the board undertook an effort to match his family’s $500,000 commitment to establish the first faculty endowment in the program’s history. That effort became the G. Eric and Margaret Davis Notable Lecturer in Political Economy. 

“I am proud that the endowment continues to grow as it elevates and enhances what is already the preeminent political economy program in the country,” said G. Eric Davis. “The flexible-yet-rigorous analytical framework earned through a political economy education will be a critical asset for leaders in the rapidly changing and uncertain world we are facing.”

In 2023, the Founders Board — an executive committee of the alumni board — was established, and each member made a meaningful commitment to support the endowment. Founders Board members Andrew Barkett, Craig Enenstein, Afsheen Lebastchi, Scott Morgan, Mark Rosenberg, Alison Shimada, and Tracy Tuens — along with Carol Mon Lee — all contributed, exceeding the match goal. Lebastchi and Rosenberg were former students of Karras.

“Political Economy offers one of the most compelling frameworks for understanding today’s world, particularly in times of rapid change and uncertainty,” said Barkett, a co-chair of the Political Economy Advisory Board. “Many of the most important challenges we face — across markets, governments, and societies — don’t fit neatly within a single discipline, which is why interdisciplinary approaches in academia are more important than ever. Berkeley’s program is especially well positioned to lead in this space, and I believe it has the potential to become the leading program of its kind globally.”

“As a 1985 graduate of the Political Economy Program, I have come to truly value UC Berkeley’s interdisciplinary way of learning,” said Shimada, the other Political Economy Advisory Board co-chair. “The world now requires an integrated way of thinking that is well-served by political economy. Therefore, I was very interested in supporting the program’s curriculum.”

Shimada said she uses the skills and perspectives she learned at UC Berkeley every day in her role as an equity portfolio manager covering emerging markets. Her political economy background proved useful in understanding geo-political risk, national economic agendas, and corresponding corporate behavior.

“Students who excel in political economy excel in becoming good global citizens,” said Shimada.

Ultimately, UC Berkeley’s political economists — with Dean of Social Sciences Raka Ray’s strong support — hope to turn their successful program into a full-fledged department. Their next goals are to create additional teaching capacity and grow the endowment fund to support an administrative chair position for the Political Economy Program’s faculty director.