Michael Gavin

I specialize in the international and comparative political economy of finance.

My research examines how politics shapes the conduct of monetary policy, the functional profile of central banks, and the size and scope of the global financial safety net. I explore how political pressures influence central banks' decisions, particularly under populist regimes, and how these pressures affect economic stability. My work also examines the historical evolution of central banks, analyzing how their roles have been shaped by the political and economic needs of their founding regimes.

Additionally, my research seeks to explain why the global financial safety net, though intended to provide universal protection, often fails to do so, leaving many countries vulnerable. I investigate how the politics shaping the size and scope of international institutions like the IMF lead to a fragmented and ultimately inequitable system of global financial governance.