I am a Visiting Researcher at the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and an Economist/Analyst at the Department of Finance, Government of Canada.

I research the politics of IMF lending and central banking in emerging and developing economies. Why are national central banks pillars financial stability while the IMF remains a chastened institution? Why are populist leaders more likely to pressure their independent central bank? And do their pressure tactics succeed (hint: yes)? Why were the first central banks founded and does it have anything to do with war? These are some of the questions I address in my research.

My research has appeared or is forthcoming in Comparative Political Studies, International Studies Quarterly, The Review of International Organizations, and ​​Environmental and Resource Economics.

My research uses formal modelling, original datasets, quantitative methods, qualitative field work, and case study analysis.

Michael A. Gavin

Economist, Department of Finance

Government of Canada

Visiting Researcher, Graduate School of Public and 

International Affairs, The University of Ottawa​