Thom, Michael
Mike's primary research concern is state fiscal policy, but he has broad interests in social welfare, federalism, science and environmental policy, and public opinion. His dissertation investigates the relationship between state politics and public employee retirement policy. In particular, the project looks at the effect of political factors on pension funding differences as well as those factors' role in the diffusion of alternatives to traditional public sector pensions. Portions of this work have been presented at meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Beyond his dissertation, Mike's research agenda has advanced on two fronts, including work on the determinants of federal science policy change and the initiation of a series of inquiries into partisan realignment. The latter will rely on a unique data set of 30+ years of public opinion data. He also plans a study of state-federal funding dynamics related to the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital program. Mike has also served as both a teaching assistant and a lead instructor in various political science, public policy, and mathematics courses, and is familiar with both traditional lecture and online formats.
American Politics; Public Policy & Administration
Pension Politics: Partisan Influence on Public Sector Pension Funding and the Diffusion of Alternative Plans
Saundra K. Schneider (Chair), Valentina Bali, Joshua Sapotichne, and Leslie Papke
