Regular biography
Augustin Bergeron is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Harvard University. His research focuses on development economics, public economics, and political economy, with an emphasis on the determinants of state and tax capacity. He also examines how historical social structures and beliefs influence modern economic development. Much of his work involves fieldwork in the D.R. Congo, where he manages ODEKA, a non-profit survey organization. Bergeron earned his Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard in 2021 and previously served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Stanford King Center on Global Development. He is a Faculty Research Fellow at the NBER and affiliated with several research organizations including BREAD, J-PAL, CEPR, IGC, CEGA, Harvard CID, and the Weatherhead Center.
Scholar-generated biography
Augustin Bergeron is a scholar specializing in Development Economics, Political Economy, Public Finance, State Capacity, and Taxation. His research explores how state capacity influences tax compliance and economic development, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Bergeron's work includes experimental studies on tax collection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, examining the role of local elites and bureaucratic behavior. He also investigates income inequality, land formalization, and the impact of colonial legacies on social and moral order. His research combines empirical analysis with theoretical insights to understand the mechanisms driving economic development and institutional effectiveness.