Dr. David Skarbek

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. David Skarbek. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

David Skarbek is the Michael Targoff Professor of Political Economy at Brown University, where he also serves as the Director of the Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. His research focuses on extralegal governance, exploring how institutions form, operate, and evolve, particularly in the context of prisons in California and globally. His work has been published in leading political science and economics journals, including the American Political Science Review and the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. Skarbek's book, 'Social Order Underworld: Prison Gangs Govern American Penal System,' received the 2016 William H. Riker Award from the American Political Science Association for the best book in political economy. He has also received the 2014 Publication Award from the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime and was shortlisted for the British Sociological Association's 2014 Ethnography Award. His research has been featured in various national and international media outlets, such as The Atlantic, BBC, and Forbes.

Research Interests

Awards

#

Outstanding Book Award

#

Outstanding Book Award

#

William H. Riker Award

#

Outstanding Publication Award

#

Thinking Allowed Ethnography Award

#

Bracken Bower Prize

Courses

POLS 0820I - Crime, Mafias and Prison POLS 1455 - Crime, Punishment and Politics POLS 1465 - Analytical Foundations of Political Economy POLS 1465 - Introduction to Political Economy POLS 1820R - Extralegal Governance and the Problem of Social Order POLS 2040 - Institutions, Crime, and Violence

Requirements for Brown University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Undergraduate degree in Economics or related field
Application Checklist
  • Personal Statement
  • Transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • GRE Scores
  • TOEFL/IELTS Scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Department: Department of Economics