Saad Gulzar سعد گلزار
@saadgulzar.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Political Science, Global Affairs, and Economics (concurrent) at Notre Dame. Study representation, development, and the environment with a focus on South Asia.
http://saadgulzar.com/
http://saadgulzar.com/
Just posted a new review paper I co-authored with @kathrynbaragwanath.bsky.social. It is prepared for the Annual Review of Political Science. Comments welcome!
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ixtd6...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ixtd6...
October 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Just posted a new review paper I co-authored with @kathrynbaragwanath.bsky.social. It is prepared for the Annual Review of Political Science. Comments welcome!
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ixtd6...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ixtd6...
RF Kuang's new book's synopsis
September 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
RF Kuang's new book's synopsis
Just read @adambonica.bsky.social 's latest deep dive into the Democratic Party's campaign finance spamming. Wow! data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-mother...
August 3, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Just read @adambonica.bsky.social 's latest deep dive into the Democratic Party's campaign finance spamming. Wow! data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-mother...
on.ft.com/4ffKLOH How BYD caught up with Tesla in the global EV race
July 24, 2025 at 7:44 AM
on.ft.com/4ffKLOH How BYD caught up with Tesla in the global EV race
Here's a link to our paper that is discussed in the blog: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/addkl...
January 27, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Here's a link to our paper that is discussed in the blog: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/addkl...
Our headline finding is that the boost in political representation for the ST increased forest cover and decreased the rate of deforestation in areas with median ex-ante forest cover (the figure plots the effects in VCF data by all declines of ex-ante cover)
January 16, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Our headline finding is that the boost in political representation for the ST increased forest cover and decreased the rate of deforestation in areas with median ex-ante forest cover (the figure plots the effects in VCF data by all declines of ex-ante cover)
Descriptively, we plot forest variables in two sattelite datasets. VCF shows that average tree canopy in our sample has been weakly increasing over the entire span of the VCF dataset. GFC shows substantial deforestation between 2000 and 2015.
January 16, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Descriptively, we plot forest variables in two sattelite datasets. VCF shows that average tree canopy in our sample has been weakly increasing over the entire span of the VCF dataset. GFC shows substantial deforestation between 2000 and 2015.
We study these questions in the context of India, where Scheduled Tribes (>100million), most of whom live in Scheduled Areas in India, have livelihoods closely connected with forests.
January 16, 2025 at 5:33 PM
We study these questions in the context of India, where Scheduled Tribes (>100million), most of whom live in Scheduled Areas in India, have livelihoods closely connected with forests.
Students of bureaucracy and government rarely consider how a bureaucrat's ethical framework shapes their work. At best these are shrouded in notions of "intrinsic motivation". This new article unpacks bureaucrats' ethical labor: journal.culanth.org/index.php/ca...
November 24, 2024 at 6:16 PM
Students of bureaucracy and government rarely consider how a bureaucrat's ethical framework shapes their work. At best these are shrouded in notions of "intrinsic motivation". This new article unpacks bureaucrats' ethical labor: journal.culanth.org/index.php/ca...
In the final part, we use a meteorological model to isolate the effect of crop burning (from other air pollution factors) on child and infant mortality. A 1-log point increase in pollution exposure from crop burning causes an additional 24 out of 1000 infants to die in their first year of life.
November 4, 2024 at 3:24 PM
In the final part, we use a meteorological model to isolate the effect of crop burning (from other air pollution factors) on child and infant mortality. A 1-log point increase in pollution exposure from crop burning causes an additional 24 out of 1000 infants to die in their first year of life.
Effects increase monotonically as one approaches jurisdiction borders in both directions: when wind brings pollution to the home district, crop burning decreases; when wind takes pollution out, it increases. This shows incentives determine both bureaucratic action and inaction.
November 4, 2024 at 3:23 PM
Effects increase monotonically as one approaches jurisdiction borders in both directions: when wind brings pollution to the home district, crop burning decreases; when wind takes pollution out, it increases. This shows incentives determine both bureaucratic action and inaction.
We show that when wind changes direction, such that the *same* location that was a source of pollution for a neighboring bureaucrat now becomes a source of pollution for a bureaucrats' home district, crop burning decreases by ~15%.
November 4, 2024 at 3:22 PM
We show that when wind changes direction, such that the *same* location that was a source of pollution for a neighboring bureaucrat now becomes a source of pollution for a bureaucrats' home district, crop burning decreases by ~15%.
We study crop burning which accounts for 40-60% of pollution during winter months. Farmers across the northern subcontinent burn the stubble left over after the winter rice harvest as it is much cheaper than alternatives.
November 4, 2024 at 3:22 PM
We study crop burning which accounts for 40-60% of pollution during winter months. Farmers across the northern subcontinent burn the stubble left over after the winter rice harvest as it is much cheaper than alternatives.
🚨Just published in @natureportfolio.bsky.social
with @gemmadipoppa.bsky.social🚨
We argue that reducing crop burning in South Asia, responsible for toxic air for 100s of millns, is not completely intractable. We show bureaucrats exert control when incentivized, w large consequences for pub health
with @gemmadipoppa.bsky.social🚨
We argue that reducing crop burning in South Asia, responsible for toxic air for 100s of millns, is not completely intractable. We show bureaucrats exert control when incentivized, w large consequences for pub health
November 4, 2024 at 3:21 PM
🚨Just published in @natureportfolio.bsky.social
with @gemmadipoppa.bsky.social🚨
We argue that reducing crop burning in South Asia, responsible for toxic air for 100s of millns, is not completely intractable. We show bureaucrats exert control when incentivized, w large consequences for pub health
with @gemmadipoppa.bsky.social🚨
We argue that reducing crop burning in South Asia, responsible for toxic air for 100s of millns, is not completely intractable. We show bureaucrats exert control when incentivized, w large consequences for pub health
Maira Hayat, Shan Aman-Rana and I are looking to hire an RA in 🇵🇰 to help digitize/analyze data on agri taxes. The project relates to political economy, public policy, and environmental social sciences. Strong quantitative skills are required. See ad below for details.
October 22, 2024 at 12:36 PM
Maira Hayat, Shan Aman-Rana and I are looking to hire an RA in 🇵🇰 to help digitize/analyze data on agri taxes. The project relates to political economy, public policy, and environmental social sciences. Strong quantitative skills are required. See ad below for details.
The party randomized recruitment messages to 1% of a 13-million-person electorate to join its ranks during its routine volunteer recruitment in the state.
August 7, 2024 at 2:28 PM
The party randomized recruitment messages to 1% of a 13-million-person electorate to join its ranks during its routine volunteer recruitment in the state.
🚨 Just published in American Political Science Review 🚨
with Durgesh Pathak @sarahthompson.bsky.social and Aliz Toth
We show that strategic messaging by party leaders can effectively shape volunteer rank&file recruitment with consequences for long-term party development
with Durgesh Pathak @sarahthompson.bsky.social and Aliz Toth
We show that strategic messaging by party leaders can effectively shape volunteer rank&file recruitment with consequences for long-term party development
August 7, 2024 at 2:27 PM
🚨 Just published in American Political Science Review 🚨
with Durgesh Pathak @sarahthompson.bsky.social and Aliz Toth
We show that strategic messaging by party leaders can effectively shape volunteer rank&file recruitment with consequences for long-term party development
with Durgesh Pathak @sarahthompson.bsky.social and Aliz Toth
We show that strategic messaging by party leaders can effectively shape volunteer rank&file recruitment with consequences for long-term party development
Result 3: 2+ years later, the policies these people picked (budgetary spending) aligned significantly more with citizens' preferences (fig shows gap in policy & prefs).
We show that people were more likely to assume positions of influence in councils and become project proposers
We show that people were more likely to assume positions of influence in councils and become project proposers
March 19, 2024 at 1:22 PM
Result 3: 2+ years later, the policies these people picked (budgetary spending) aligned significantly more with citizens' preferences (fig shows gap in policy & prefs).
We show that people were more likely to assume positions of influence in councils and become project proposers
We show that people were more likely to assume positions of influence in councils and become project proposers
Gallup Pakistan shared data with us from a nationally representative survey they conducted in Pakistan. Most people agree that politics in the status quo is about personal gain. World Values Survey similarly reports low trust in parliaments and pol parties around the world.
March 19, 2024 at 1:21 PM
Gallup Pakistan shared data with us from a nationally representative survey they conducted in Pakistan. Most people agree that politics in the status quo is about personal gain. World Values Survey similarly reports low trust in parliaments and pol parties around the world.
Just released an updated draft of a paper on crop burning and air pollution in South Asia with @gemmadipoppa.bsky.social . Comments welcome!
osf.io/nyhz4
osf.io/nyhz4
November 8, 2023 at 5:10 PM
Just released an updated draft of a paper on crop burning and air pollution in South Asia with @gemmadipoppa.bsky.social . Comments welcome!
osf.io/nyhz4
osf.io/nyhz4
I'm presenting at the South Asia Seminar at Brown University on Friday from 2-4pm at Joukowsky Forum on the first floor of Watson Institute. Drop by if interested!
September 21, 2023 at 12:02 AM
I'm presenting at the South Asia Seminar at Brown University on Friday from 2-4pm at Joukowsky Forum on the first floor of Watson Institute. Drop by if interested!