Steven P. Erie

Erie's research interests include urban politics, public policy, ethnic/racial politics, and American political development. He is the author of four books: Rainbow's End: Irish-Americans and the Dilemmas of Urban Machine Politics, 1840-1985; Globalizing L.A.: Trade, Infrastructure, and Regional Development; Beyond 'Chinatown': The Metropolitan Water District, Growth, and the Environment in Southern California; and Paradise Plundered: Fiscal Crisis and Governance Failures in San Diego. Rainbow's End won best urban book awards from the American Political Science Association and the American Sociological Association.  Globalizing L.A. won book awards from Lambda Alpha International Land Economics Society and the Historical Society of Southern California. And, most recently, Paradise Plundered won the best urban book award from the American Political Science Association. He also has written numerous journal articles and book chapters.  His current book project is Mulholland's Gift: The Politics and Policymaking of L.A.'s Department of Water and Power. Professor Erie is actively involved in public policy debates on issues of infrastructure, economic development, governance, and public finance. He helped write San Diego's new "strong mayor" form of government; served on the governor's infrastructure commission; and advises public officials, business and community leaders in Southern California on the policy challenges facing the region.

Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, 1975
American Politics, Urban Politics, Public Policy