Carlo Prato is an Associate Professor (without tenure) in the Department of Political Science and a Lavine Scholar at Columbia University. His research revolves around three broad themes. First, how electoral institutions shape voter learning and their ability to select and hold representatives accountable. Second, how electoral system design shapes the behavior of candidates and party leaders, with a focus on list proportional representation and ranked choice voting—the main focus of electoral reformers’ advocacy efforts in the United States. Third, how political parties set up—or fail to set up— internal power-sharing institutions to more efficiently achieve their electoral and legislative goals. His work has been published in a number of peer-reviewed academic journals, including the American Journal of Political Science and the Journal of Politics. He holds a BA and MA from Bocconi University. He received his PhD in Economics from Northwestern University in 2012. Between 2012 and 2016, he was an Assistant Professor in the E. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He also held positions at Princeton University and at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

Carlo Prato was born in Novi Ligure, Italy (picture below) where he also grew up and obtained his high school diploma in classical studies. His hometown is famous for producing focaccia, legendary cyclists, and chocolate.