Professor Houle joined the department in 2013. Prior to that, he was assistant professor in the department of political science at Trinity College, Dublin, for three years. Professor Houle received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Rochester in 2011, and his M.A. in economics from Queen’s University, Canada, in 2004. His main research and teaching interests focus on the comparative politics of developing countries. He is especially interested in topics related to democratization and democratic consolidation, economic development and income distribution.