In observance of July 4, UC San Diego will be closed on Friday, June 3.

Congratulations to Professor Margaret (Molly) Roberts on her appointment as the new director of the 21st Century China Center! 🔗 More: https://ow.ly/WKYM50ZjMsK

Measuring Inflation is a lot tougher than it looks. 📈 Professor Munseob Lee and others have devised a different way to measure inflation that considers consumer demand for goods rather than relying on price information. 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/OXwy50ZhoGh #Inflation #Economics

What's it like to work part-time as a graduate student? ⚖️ Nomuna Surkhiisaikhan (pictured right), a Master of International Affairs candidate, has firsthand experience balancing a busy academic schedule with a job: https://ow.ly/e2PO50ZgHvJ

Amid International conflicts and a higher cost of living, Japan's central bank recently raised its main interest rate to its highest level in 31 years. 🔗 Professor Ulrike Schaede told BBC that this could signal "a slow global realignment": https://ow.ly/x4LB50Ze1WU

Following a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act, Professor Zoltan Hajnal co-authored an analysis of the decision for “The American Prospect": https://ow.ly/yEiB50Zgy2w

One more look back at GPS commencement, because the Class of 2026 is easy to celebrate! 🤩 📸 View more photos: https://ow.ly/3ACe50ZgmWA #GPSProud

Summer’s here, and you don’t have a book to read? Check out this list of recommendations from GPS faculty! 📚 Our professors offered up selections ranging from literary fiction to history and analyses of current events, so there’s something for everyone.: https://ow.ly/6Etx50Ze1pF

As the 2026 GPS graduates gathered to celebrate their achievements, the commencement speakers challenged the graduating class to use their training to solve problems and overcome divisions — even when their expertise is met with skepticism. 🔗 More on GPS News: https://ow.ly/QS0N50Zft9a

In honor of Juneteenth, UC San Diego will be closed on Friday, June 19.

Novels on Authoritarian Rule: Summer Reading Edition 📖 In his book review series for the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation blog, Professor Stephan Haggard focuses on the particular ways eight novels shed light on autocratic rule. 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/zVeW50ZcxVl

What do desert locusts reveal about disaster monitoring? Professor Gordon McCord examines one of the longest-running disaster monitoring systems in existence and finds that early detection systems can dramatically reduce long-term harms to humans. 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/oSAH50ZcXXt

Can changing when elections are held have an effect on political polarization? 🗳️ In emerging research, Professor Zoltan Hajnal finds that more moderate voters show up to the polls when local elections are held at the same time as national and state contests. 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/sV2250Zcoxr

Congratulations to the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy Class of 2026 — you did it! 🎓 #GPSProud

Are labor unions the "bulwark of democracy" that some have claimed? A working paper co-authored by Professor John Ahlquist examines the role of unions in preventing and resisting democratic backsliding. Read on the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation website: https://ow.ly/AEol50Z7lCs

How can researchers reconstruct economic activity in opaque regimes? 🔎 Professors Stephan Haggard and Munseob Lee co-authored a new study which outlines a toolkit to do just that, incorporating methods like satellite imagery, price monitoring and text mining: https://ow.ly/flCg50Z7MSU

While the price of equipment has declined in recent decades, the cost of structures is rising in the U.S. and other high-income economies. 📈 In a new column for VoxEU @ CEPR, Professor Munseob Lee examines this countervailing trend and what it means for policy: https://ow.ly/Ca1Y50Z6VjB

What’s the first thing people want to know when a decision is uncertain? 🎲 In a new study, Professor Uma Karmarkar asked people facing an unsure opportunity which information they want to see first – the potential reward, or the odds of getting it: https://ow.ly/rMt150Z5Pvt

California recently unveiled a $1 billion rebate program for electric trucks, but experts disagree on whether it's a good idea. 🚚 Dean Caroline Freund explains her viewpoint, including why the program's funding could be better allocated elsewhere: https://ow.ly/Eyhe50Z5Pmg

Read the latest @ucigcc.bsky.social working paper co-authored by Professor John Ahlquist ⬇️

#BrainDrain or #BrainGain ? 21CIC faculty affiliate @econgaurav.bsky.social discussed his research at one of the most compelling sessions of the @ucsandiego.bsky.social #USIndiaForum. Khanna used empirical evidence to challenge two of the most persistent myths in the U.S.–India immigration debate

New study co-authored by Professors Stephan Haggard and Munseob Lee ⬇️

As Mexico’s dominant political party works to add protections from "foreign interference" in its elections, Professor Rafael Fernández de Castro shares his perspective on the proposal with The New York Times: https://ow.ly/MXxE50Z5Pah

A study coauthored by Professor Achyuta Adhvaryu found that near-vision glasses boosted productivity among garment workers in India by up to 6%, showing that a simple intervention could yield gains similar to costlier training programs: https://ow.ly/2og950Z6iTb

At GPS' annual student awards ceremony, a select group of students were recognized by their peers and faculty for their academic, teaching, and community-building accomplishments. ✨ 🏆 Meet the 2026 awardees: https://ow.ly/xrgi50Z5gco

Prior to reaching a deal this week, the Samsung Electronics' union in South Korea was threatening to strike over demands for significant performance bonuses. Professor Munseob Lee shares what it would take for a high-returns model to be sustainable: https://ow.ly/6wBa50Z5fn2

How can farmers in low- and middle-income countries boost their profits? On VoxDev, Professor Craig McIntosh evaluates credit, subsidies and cash transfers for smallholder farmers, concluding that credit is most effective when paired with new agricultural technologies: https://ow.ly/xGnN50Z4VRx

As AI spending is expected, by some estimates, to reach $1.1 trillion next year, the San Diego Union-Tribune recently asked economists whether this AI boom is distorting the economy. GPS Dean Caroline Freund answered "yes." Read her full response: https://ow.ly/spTo50Z4pSX

Reminder: In observance of Memorial Day, @UCSanDiego will be closed on Monday, May 25.

Following the meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Professor Victor Shih writes that the summit demonstrated how China's position has strengthened since Trump's return to office. Read more: https://ow.ly/j4aU50Z3jfb

Asking an AI model the same political question in two different languages can lead to two very different answers. Why is that? In a new study published in Nature, researchers found evidence that state media control can influence large language models' (LLMs) behavior.

Happening today! Register below. ⬇️

Professor Krislert Samphantharak recently spoke at an event held by The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand about the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand’s economy. Photo credit: AMCHAM Thailand #GPSAlumni #UCSDAlumni

Following a third assassination attempt against President Donald Trump last month, Professor Barbara Walter offers insights into the uptick in political violence in the U.S.: https://ow.ly/Ne9150Z1cA7

At Triton Wave Makers in Washington, D.C., Dean Caroline Freund moderated a panel featuring UC San Diego alumni Kurt M. Campbell ’80, Jaime E. Lizárraga ’88 and Tim Roemer ’79. Several GPS alumni attended the event, which focused on how global policy and progress intersect with entrepreneurship.

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping began their two-day summit in Beijing on Thursday. Ahead of the meeting, the 21st Century China Center's China Focus Blog asked experts at UC San Diego about which issue they most want the two leaders to address: https://ow.ly/71zX50YZPXp

In new research, Professor Gaurav Khanna and others illustrate the impact of workers' locations on their earnings and show how efficiently allocating workers could boost incomes, particularly in developing countries. Read more on VoxDev: https://ow.ly/q87750YZ72c

On Friday, the Latin American Student Association (LASO) at GPS held its annual LASO Fest—a vibrant celebration of Latin American culture complete with food, music and dance!

Congratulations to Professor Mateo Vásquez-Cortés on his Early Career Faculty Research Excellence Award from the University of California Office of the President! The award was given in recognition of his research project, "Building Belonging: The Impact of Citizenship on Psychosocial Integration."

Activist investors are now interested in investing in Japan, following recent successes in regions that were previously unfriendly. Professor Ulrike Schaede warns about the risks associated with this investment. Read more here: https://ow.ly/mRTn50YRvOa

Nick Beaudoin, Caltech CTME, shares a preview of his "AI: Past, Present, and Future" talk and discusses the impact of AI. Request information: https://ow.ly/xsN650YOOiT Music: https://ow.ly/KFzB50YOOiS License code: 7SEH0LCC4VEHYNWD Artist: Benjamin Tissot

K-beauty is an important part of Korea’s success in the industrial economy. Why is this the case? Professor Munseob Lee attributes K-beauty’s success to the dominance of the “Trinity” industrial model. 💄Read more here: https://ow.ly/IAiS50YRtix

Last month, the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies held its fifth annual U.S.-Mexico Forum in Mexico City. The gathering aims to enhance cooperation between the two nations, and across North America, by identifying potential frictions and proposing solutions. This year’s event examined the

Ahead of the upcoming meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, research professor Susan Shirk warns of “diplomatic malpractice” that could undermine the summit’s ability to yield progress on key issues beyond trade. Read more: https://ow.ly/EuTO50YUJIp

In April, @ucsandiego.bsky.social's @gpsindiacenter.bsky.social at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, together with Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla and partners from the university’s Health system (@ucsdhealth.bsky.social), @ucsdhealthsci.bsky.social,

As the midterms approach, protecting the integrity of elections is becoming increasingly important. Professor Lauren Prather shares how election office tours for opposing candidates for state legislatures and Congress can increase trust in the system. Read more: https://ow.ly/o1AJ50YTGER

This May, UC San Diego celebrates its second annual Jewish American Heritage Month—a federally recognized observance honoring the profound contributions of Jewish Americans to the nation’s culture, history, science, arts, civil rights, labor movements, government and education: https://jahm.ucsd.edu

May marks Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. UC San Diego is proud to host a diverse array of events, from community mixers to live performances, in honor of this campuswide commemoration. Discover more at apiaheritage.ucsd.edu.

Policy education beyond the classroom ✅ This group of GPS students recently returned from a trip to California’s capital, where they had the opportunity to hear from lawmakers and connect with GPS alumni employed in state government. #GPSProud

Why aren't the Americas producing more critical minerals? MIA student Mateo Micucci co-authored a study from the Institute of the Americas, sharing how GPS provided him with research opportunities to further his career. Read more here: https://ow.ly/9ulF50YOOQu