Soeren Henn

I am an economist and political scientist working on economic development and political economy in sub-Saharan Africa. I am a Lecturer in Economics at Newcastle University Business School since Summer 2022. Previously, I was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Chicago's Pearson Institute and Innovations for Poverty Action's Peace and Recover Program. I received my Ph.D. in Political Economy & Government from Harvard University in 2019. My research lies at the intersection of development, comparative politics and political economy. I study the politics of development with a focus on fragile state settings, informal institutions, and conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Great Lakes region, and Latin America. Using a range of methods, from field and natural experiments to qualitative interviews, my research aims to address the overarching question of what characterizes governance in fragile states and how it might be improved. Soeren's research focuses on political institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Great Lakes region. He is currently conducting research projects in the DRC, Nigeria, and Rwanda. He serves as an academic advisor at Marakuja Kivu Research in Goma, DRC.