David Brady

Research Statement

Brady's research focuses on the American Congress, the party system, and public policy. He is at present working on a book on the electoral base of party parity in the United States and its effects on polarization and gridlock in the policy arena. He has published eight books and more than a hundred papers in journals and books. Among his most recent publications are Leadership and Growth (World Bank Publications, 2010) coedited with Michael Spence, Revolving Gridlock: Politics and Policy from Carter to Bush II (Westview Press, 2006), and Red and Blue Nation? Characteristics and Causes of America’s Polarized Politics with Pietro Nivola (Brookings Institution Press, 2007).

Bio

David Brady began his teaching career at Kansas State University in 1970, from there moved to Houston, Texas, where he taught at both the University of Houston and Rice University, where in 1981 he was named Autry Distinguished Professor of Social Science. In 1986 he moved to Stanford University with a joint appointment in the Graduate School of Business and Political Science. While at Stanford he has served as Associate Dean for Academic affairs in the GSB and as Vice Provost for Distance Learning at Stanford. He has twice been a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1987. He presently holds the Bowen H. and Janice Arthur McCoy Professorship in Ethics at the Business School and is Deputy Director of the Hoover Institution.

Professor Brady’s teaching focuses on non-market strategy for corporations and ethical applications in building quality companies. In addition to his Business School teaching he also teaches an undergraduate course in public policy.  He won the Dinkelspiel Award for service to undergraduates, the Richard Lyman Prize for service to alumni,the Bob Davies award and The Jaedicke silver cup from the GSB and the first Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Award given at Stanford. Brady has been on continuing appointment at Stanford University since 1987. He was associate dean from 1997 to 2001 at Stanford University; a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences from 1985 to 1986 and again in 2001–2; and the Autrey Professor at Rice University, 1980–87.

His research focuses on the ties between elections, institutions (especially legislatures) and public policies. This work includes studies of American political history and comparative studies of Britain, Ireland, Korea and Japan. His most recent project is a project on political responses to the second great transformation of the global economy.

Academic Degrees

• PhD, University of Iowa, 1970
• MA, University of Iowa, 1967
• BS, Western Illinois University, 1963

Academic Appointments

• At Stanford since 1987
• Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 2001-2002
• Business School Trust Faculty Fellow, Stanford University, 1991-1992
• Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 1985-1986
• Autrey Professor, Rice University, 1980-1987
• Associate Professor - Professor, University of Houston, 1972-1979
• Assisstant Professor, Kansas State University, 1969-1972
• C.I.C. Scholar, University of Michigan, 1964-1965

Awards and Honors

• American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2000
• Silver Apple Award Graduate School Business (Service to Alumni), 1997
• Phi Beta Kappa Distinguished Teaching Award, Stanford, 1991

Teaching

Other Teaching

• Stanford Executive Program

• Stanford-National University of Singapore Executive Program

In the Media

With Hillary Clinton the Presumptive Nominee, What Does Bernie Sanders Do Now?

NBC Bay Area, June 7, 2016

University Treading Carefully as It Considers Approaches to Distance Learning

Stanford Report, June 16, 2001

The Road to the White House

San Francisco Chronicle, 12 2000

Voting Reform: Exorcizing the Vote

Uncommon Knowledge, PBS, December 2000

Abundance of Riches Leads to Poor Choices as Lawmakers Play Politics

San Francisco Chronicle, August 2000

Netting Voters

The Industry Standard, July 26, 2000

Insights by Stanford Business

videoThe Link Between Globalization and Political Instability

July 14, 2017

Job automation and rising tensions in the labor force will bring even more volatility in the future, says political economist David Brady.

videoTrump and the GOP — Can this Marriage Work?

July 6, 2017

Will Republican leaders continue to tolerate the outlier President? David Brady, Professor of Political Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business says yes... for now.

writtenWhat Does Donald Trump Mean for Our Two-Party Political System?

March 17, 2017

Political economist David Brady talks party polarization, third-party chances, and what to expect in 2018.

writtenElection 2016: An Odd Blip or a Fundamental Shift in American Politics?

September 30, 2016

A Stanford scholar examines how we got to Trump and Clinton, who will likely win, and what it means for our future.

writtenDavid Brady Forecasts the 2012 Election at D.C. Alumni Event

March 2, 2012

Professor David Brady explained to an alumni audience how the "Guns and Butter" model of predicting elections tells just part of the story.

writtenPondering the Ethics of Global Business

February 1, 2008

The Stanford GSB Alumni Association's Lifelong Learning program and Stanford Law School sponsored the discussion led by Professor David Brady.

writtenJoss Challenges Alumni to Change the World

March 1, 2005

Business is not only an economic, but also a social institution that should be used to solve some of the world's most difficult challenges, said Joss.