Katherine Parslow

I am an economics PhD candidate at Vanderbilt University, specializing in political economy and applied microeconomic theory. My research uses theoretical tools to study how institutions shape strategic behavior, with a focus on questions grounded in real-world data and political contexts.

My dissertation focuses on how political parties and electoral interventions shape candidate incentives and behavior.

More broadly, I am interested in using game theoretic models and microeconomic tools to understand how institutions, incentives, and information frictions interact to determine political and policy outcomes. At Vanderbilt, I take an interdisciplinary approach to these questions, engaging with the political science department through coursework, seminars, and collaboration with faculty. My academic training includes courses in microeconomic theory, applied microeconomic research methods, and political economy of conflict.

Before coming to Nashville, I received my B.S. in Economics from Auburn University (War Eagle!).

When I’m not thinking about electoral competition, you can find me baking cakes, working to keep my garden alive, or (re)watching The West Wing!