UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

06/02/2026

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:

Mexico is moving to add protections from “foreign interference” in elections. The rules seem aimed at Washington, but they raised concerns about Mexico’s democracy.

06/01/2026

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:

A study reveals near-vision glasses increased productivity by 5.7% to 6% among Bengaluru garment workers, enhancing their quality of life.

05/29/2026

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. ✨

Many of the awards are given by faculty members to recognize superior academic performance in different fields, such as policy memo writing and econometrics. Others are named in memory of beloved members of the GPS community by their families to recognize students who exemplify specific values. And still other awards are given by students, based on a vote, to recognize faculty and peers who have made a positive impact on the school community.

“GPS students are smart and disciplined, and they care about the communities around them,” Dean Caroline Freund said in her remarks. “But even among our extraordinary student body, you are being recognized for your hard work, dedication and accomplishments.”

🏆 Meet the 2026 awardees: https://ow.ly/vMgk50Z5fYL

05/28/2026

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:

Samsung Unions Bonus Demand Sparks Scholar Flexibility Calls Global economists argue profit-sharing requires accepting wage cuts, layoffs during downturns

05/27/2026

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:

Credit, subsidies, and cash transfers can improve yields and revenues for smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries, but translating these gains into higher profits proves far harder. The evidence suggests that credit works best not as a standalone intervention but when paired with new...

05/26/2026

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: “Because it is viewed as a winner-take-all technology, firms are investing at extraordinary levels to avoid falling behind, crowding out investment in housing, manufacturing and other infrastructure.”

Read her full explanation:

“This technological shift means there’s no turning back to old methods,” said one San Diego economist

05/22/2026

Reminder: In observance of Memorial Day, UC San Diego will be closed on Monday, May 25.

05/22/2026

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.

In The Wire China, Shih also says the Trump administration is playing the wrong card game in their interactions with China.

Read more:

The summit in Beijing demonstrated how China’s position has strengthened since the U.S. president returned to office.

05/21/2026

Calling all GPS alumni in San Diego! You don’t want to miss this pair of events coming up on Saturday, June 20.

🔱 GPS San Diego Mixer | 4 to 5:45 p.m.
Join GPS at East Village Tavern to connect with fellow alumni over complimentary appetizers. Dean Caroline Freund and Professor Gordon McCord will provide an update on the progress of the school and the role alumni play in its success.

Register: https://ow.ly/mklK50Z2VgP

🔱 Triton Wave Makers | 6 to 9 p.m.
Then, head to the Triton Wave Makers event just across the street at UC San Diego Park & Market. This inspiring speaker series event will feature engaging alumni who share their journeys and encourage you along yours.

Register: https://ow.ly/Hm7G50Z2VgQ

05/21/2026

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. Co-author Margaret Roberts, UC San Diego professor of political science and co-director of the China Data Lab at GPS's 21st Century China Center, says these findings "suggest that LLMs create new incentives for powerful actors to think strategically about the text they disseminate online.”

Read more on GPS News: https://ow.ly/Ee5J50Z2ur7

Nature study shows how state-coordinated media in AI training data influences model responses about politics, especially in a country’s own language…