Paula C. Rettl

Paula Rettl is an Assistant Professor in the Business, Government, and International Economy Unit at Harvard Business School. Her primary areas of expertise are comparative politics, political economy and political behavior, with a focus on Latin America and Europe. 

Professor Rettl’s research centers on how broad societal changes shape mass attitudes and behavior. For example, in some of her work, she examines how voters’ responses to globalization varies depending on whether they rely on the state or religious organizations for support during difficult economic times. In other work, she investigates how natural disasters shape voting behavior and the role played by economic interest in this context.

Professor Rettl earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from Bocconi University in 2023. She also holds a M.A. in European Affairs from Science Po Paris and a B.Sc. in Geography from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp).