Dean, Hobby School of Public Affairs
Professor, Hobby School of Public Affairs

Expertise: Policy Analysis, Macroeconomic Policy, Science Policy, Mathematical and Statistical Modeling

Career Highlights:
A native of the south side of Chicago, Jim Granato is dean and a professor of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs.  He is also a University of Houston Energy Fellow.   

Prior to coming to the Hobby School, Granato taught in the department of Government at the University of Texas (2005-2006) and in the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University (1991-2001). His teaching and research interests include American politics, political economy, public policy, econometrics and the unification of formal and empirical analysis.

Granato’s professional experience also includes service as the political science program director and visiting scientist at the National Science Foundation (NSF).  During his service at NSF, he helped develop and implement research and education training reforms in quantitative analysis, foremost was the Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models (EITM) initiative, one that still is being supported by NSF and has had a national impact.

His research and teaching have been supported by the City of Houston, various Texas governmental agencies, the Houston Endowment, Truist and the National Science Foundation.  He also has given public testimony to local and state government committees on various issues. 

Granato’s academic service includes serving on several editorial boards, as well as chairing or membership on scientific and academic panels with primary focus on education and quantitative research.

Granato is the author or co-author of numerous publications in academic journals such as American Journal of Political Science, Economics and Politics, Journal of Theoretical Politics, Macroeconomic Dynamics, Political Analysis, Political Research Quarterly, Public Choice and the Southern Economic Journal.  Other samples of his research can be found in the books, The Role of Policymakers in Business Cycle Fluctuations and The Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models in Political Science --- both published by Cambridge University Press.