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Latest news from LSE ID
Jean-Paul Faguet Presents at European Journal of Political Economy Conference
Last week, Jean-Paul Faguet presented his latest research, “Cleavage Shift and Political Collapse and Rebirth in Bolivia,” at the European Journal of Political Economy conference, held in Davos, Switzerland on 2–3 February.
The conference brought together leading political economy scholars from across Europe, North America and beyond, offering a vibrant forum for the exchange of new ideas and research. Jean-Paul’s presentation contributed to ongoing debates on political realignment, institutional change and democratic resilience in Latin America.
Remembering Professor Tim Allen, Former Head of our Department
The Department of International Development is deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Tim Allen. Tim joined the Department in 1997, later served as Head of Department, and went on to become the Director of the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa (FLIA). One of his long‑standing colleagues, Professor David Keen, shares the following tribute on behalf of the Department.
Professor Ken Shadlen presents COVID-19 vaccine IP research with European Commission
On Wednesday 28 January, Professor Ken Shadlen presented findings from his British Academy–funded project, Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for IP licensing practices in vaccine production, at the European Commission. The meeting, attended by around 30 participants, was organised by DG GROW and brought together officials from DG TRADE, DG RTD, DG HERA, DG SANTE, and other Commission services. The project is based at Queen Mary University of London, and involves collaborators in Belgium, Denmark, and Poland. From LSE, contributors include Professor Shadlen and Dr Eduardo Mercadante (PhD 2025).
Professor Kathy Hochstetler on Energy Transition in Brazil: An Overview of Progress and Social Justice Dilemmas
Professor Kathy Hochstetler has written a report for UNRISD, Energy Transition in Brazil: An Overview of Progress and Social Justice Dilemmas. The article examines Brazil’s energy transition, focusing on the social justice challenges of shifting from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy while addressing inequality and protecting workers, communities and vulnerable groups.
Professor Ernestina Coast awarded LSE Urgency Funding for Innovations in Self-Managed Abortion Care
Professor Ernestina Coast has been awarded LSE Urgency Funding for the project “Innovations in Self-Managed Abortion Care: User & Provider Experiences” (August 2025–August 2026). The research will explore user and provider perspectives to inform more responsive and inclusive approaches to abortion care, benefitting both service users and practitioners.
Professor Kathy Hochstetler on COP Brazil
Professor Kathy Hochstetler was interviewed around the climate COP in Belém, Brazil. Brazil hosts COP30 with high ambitions and scaling environmental ambiguities (Mongabay), explores the political complexities behind Brazil’s climate positioning. China and Brazil aim to be climate leaders and keep polluting too (Bloomberg), examines how both countries balance climate ambition with ongoing emissions.
Professor Ken Shadlen on secondary patents, challenges and responses
Professor Ken Shadlen gave an online seminar in October to a university in Buenos Aires, FLACSO as part of their Propiedad intelectual en América Latina y el Caribe series. The topic was secondary patents, challenges and responses. The talk was in Spanish with the title “Patentes secundarias en el área farmacéutica: desafíos y respuestas.” Watch a recording of the lecture here.
Dr Tine Hanrieder on The Managed Migration of Health Professionals
Dr Tine Hanrieder gave a presentation on ‘The Managed Migration of Health Professionals’ at the 9th Summer School of Migration organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia. The presentation highlighted the limitations of present-day bilateral agreements in mitigating ‘brain drain’ and unequal exchanges between origin and destination countries.
Dr BooKang Seol awarded funding for Forests as Economic Infrastructure
We’re pleased to share that Dr BooKang Seol's project “Forests as Economic Infrastructure: The Economic Dividends of Reforestation in South Korea’s 1970s Industrialization” has been selected for funding under the 9th STEG SRG call. The award provides £25,000 over 12 months to support digitisation and research assistance. The project provides the first causal, micro-level evidence that reforestation acted as economic infrastructure in South Korea’s 1970s transformation - reducing disasters, boosting farm productivity, and freeing women’s and children’s time for education and market work.
Dr Lydia Assouad awarded LSE Research and Innovation
We are also pleased to share that Dr Lydia Assouad has been awarded £15,000 from the LSE Research and Innovation fund for her project "The Socio-Economic Impact of Water Scarcity: Evidence from Jordan". The project uses original household survey data and quasi-experimental variation in water rationing schedules in Amman, Jordan, to causally estimate how chronic water scarcity affects households’ time use, wellbeing, labour supply, mental health, and children’s educational outcomes.