Hello, and welcome to my website!
My name is Michael Wales and I am a postdoctoral research associate in the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College, where I am manager of the Policy Research Shop. I recently received my PhD in Political Science from the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Missouri. Before pursuing a PhD, I worked as a budget analyst for two state legislatures. In my research I focus on policy evaluation on a range of topics, but with an emphasis on public budgeting. My dissertation evaluates performance-based budgeting policies in multiple states to determine the role agency performance records play in appropriations and if those outcomes align with preferences expressed by state legislators and the public through interviews and surveys. The goal of this research is to clarify the underlying theory of performance-based budgeting and to help practitioners in government better understand how policymakers use performance information to make decisions. Other research projects include the application of evaluation techniques to foreign policy issues and welfare analysis of local government income tax policies. I am also enthusiastic about teaching at the college level. When I worked in government, my goal was to equip policymakers with the tools to make informed decisions. Now, I want to pass along the knowledge I have gained through my education, research, and practical experience to equip a new generation to be effective researchers, analysts, administrators, or just informed citizens.
Please take a look at the other pages on my site to learn more about my research and teaching experience.