Nicholas Carnes

About Me

Nicholas Carnes is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. His research primarily explores U.S. politics, focusing on legislative decision-making, representation, social class, economic inequality, and state and local politics. In his book White-Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policy Making, Carnes examines how the underrepresentation of working-class individuals in American legislatures leads to policymaking that favors upper-class economic interests. He is currently completing a comprehensive study on the barriers that prevent working-class Americans from seeking public office and identifying programs that could help increase their representation in political institutions. Through his work, Carnes aims to shed light on the critical intersection of class and governance in shaping economic policies.